Acne and Eczema

Acne isn't just those pesky pimples that pop up uninvited. For Black women it can show up as tender bumps, dark marks, or tiny whiteheads — often when hair follicles get clogged by oil and dead skin cells. It's a common companion for many of us, whether it first appeared in our teenage years or knocked on the door in adulthood, and the dark marks it leaves behind can linger long after a breakout fades. Understanding it, rather than fearing it, is how we learn to care for our skin.

Eczema is just as common in our community, and it can look different on Black skin than the textbooks show — less of the obvious redness, and more dryness, darkening, and the stubborn marks left behind, along with an itch that's hard to ignore. It tends to come and go, flaring and settling over time, and learning your own triggers and early signs is a large part of keeping it in check.

Two of the most common skin concerns for Black women, side by side. Let's explore, understand, and care for our skin together.