While 1 in 10 Americans bear some familiarity with the itching, inflaming, and scarring of eczema, this figure shoots up significantly among people of color, especially within the African American demographic. As if things aren't cruel enough, here's the kicker, eczema hits them harder too.

Dr. Mohiba Tareen, a leading Minnesota-based dermatologist, punctures the veil enclosing eczema's prevalence and severity among people of color. About 20 percent of African Americans will lock horns with this beast in their lifetime. That's higher than the 16 percent and 8 percent among Caucasian and Hispanic Americans, respectively.

So why is eczema a different ballgame for people of color? Essentially, it boils down to genetics and lifestyle. First up is the skin preservation champ itself: the collagen, which being thicker in people with darker skin, often leads to a bumpier battlefield for eczema. Secondly, increased melanin brings its own bag of tricks, including hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, and as if that isn't enough, the demon of lichenification haunts with thickening of the skin.

Moreover, the environment can be our worst enemy. For instance, urban settings, typically home for many African Americans, are bursting at the seams with irritants like pollution, allergens, UV radiation, dust, and whatnot. These pernicious elements roast up a storm for eczema, stirring up trouble for the immune system.

Speaking of stirring up trouble, let's pull out another monster from the closet: allergies. Now, not everyone with eczema is doomed with allergies, but they've got their party hats overlapping on that Venn diagram. Thanks to eczema, the skin loses its 'brick wall' stance and opens up its red carpet for allergens. One party led to another!

Sadly, diagnosing eczema in patients of color can be as tricky as the condition itself. The medical community, whose diagnostic tools overwhelmingly feature Caucasian patients, often miss the salient features of eczema in darker-skinned individuals. This results in underdiagnosis., misdiagnosis, or late detection, causing unnecessary suffering.

Pigment changes? That’s your skin’s defence mechanism upping its game. Dark-skin individuals will get darker, while light-skin folks might get lighter. Apparently, the skin cells are just too tired after the pigment overdrive phase and need a vacation.

As a parent of a child of color, eczema can be a scary monster lurking in the shadows. However, there is a lot you can do to combat this hydra-headed menace. Basic moisturizers like Vaseline, sunflower oil, and even Crisco can be your MVPs. Keeping the skin covered, avoiding itchy triggers, seeking competent dermatologic care, and being cautious about the food and household items your child is exposed to, can ensure that eczema doesn't win the game.

In the grand scheme of things, tackling eczema involves social and economic aspects too. Factors such as hard water, heavy pollution, limitations in affording proper medical care and quality moisturizers can exacerbate the issue.

For those striving to keep eczema at bay, Dr. Tareen's advice is crystal clear. Boost your vitamin D intake for stabilized immune function, deploy a humidifier to stand guard, and moisturize after baths. And of course, give soap a break. Sometimes, less is indeed more.