Dr. Ruiz Dasilva and his patients discuss eczema on skin of color

Music track throughout.

Please see Indication and Safety Considerations within this video

LOGAN: I'd never met someone who had eczema like me. And so, I would never talk about it openly with people except my mom.

CASSANDRA: Eczema looked very different on my daughter’s skin.

You know, she’s very brown skinned and literally it was black, you know?  And so that’s what I was very worried about.

DR. RUIZ DASILVA: Eczema does present differently on different people. There are cultural nuances and there are literal skin of color nuances in terms of the way rashes present.

In skin of color, hyperpigmentation is one of the main things you see in moderate to severe eczema. You see lichenification, which is a term for thickened skin that you could feel and run your hands over. You see scratch marks, more of like skin-colored bumps which can be dark, of course. And, you know, that’s very different than the typical red kind of raw look that you see in lighter skin. And so, it can be underappreciated if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

MICHAEL S.: I have yet to speak to anybody who look like me who has eczema. Even when I did see different pictures online, it wasn’t of my skin tone.

BARBARA: Race. I think it plays an effect. I do.

MICHAEL S.: I felt like I got misdiagnosed because of my skin color.  It’s sad for me to say it, but I do.

DR. RUIZ DASILVA: Misdiagnosis is much more common among skin of color patients.

I like when patients of color ask me how eczema presents in skin of color as opposed to white skin.

That education piece is good for them to know, but also for them to educate kind of their friends, family, and community as well.

MICHAEL S.: When it first started, my rash was turning reddish and then it went from reddish to like a brownish color and then it went from a brownish color to like a dark black coloring.

DR. RUIZ DASILVA: Because the coloration can change so much, it’s especially helpful for patients of color to bring in pictures.

I think that sometimes patients feel a little bit awkward about this or they feel like they don’t know how to ask. But, you know, saying “Do you see a lot of patients with my skin tone?” is a great question.

You also should never feel timid saying, “Can you refer me to someone who has seen a lot of skin of color?”

LOGAN: I would say the best advice I could give was ask questions. When you ask questions, you get answers. So the best thing you can do is just ask the question.

RINVOQ USE

RINVOQ is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older with moderate to severe eczema (atopic dermatitis) that did not respond to previous treatment and their eczema is not well controlled with other pills or injections, including biologic medicines, or the use of other pills or injections is not recommended. It is not known if RINVOQ is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age with atopic dermatitis.

Safety Considerations

RINVOQ (upadacitinib) may cause serious side effects, including:

• Serious infections. RINVOQ can lower ability to fight infections. Serious infections, some fatal, occurred, including tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.
• Increased risk of death in people age 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
• Cancer and immune system problems. Increased risk of some cancers, including lymphoma and skin. Current or past smokers have higher risk for lymphoma and lung cancer.
• Increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor, especially in current or past smokers.
• Blood clots, some fatal, in veins of the legs or lungs and arteries. This occurred more often in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
• Serious allergic reactions. Do not take if allergic to RINVOQ or its ingredients.
• Tears in the stomach or intestines; changes in certain laboratory test results.

Please see additional Important Safety Information on the page below.