Vaseline Launches Database Showing How Skin Conditions Actually Look On Black & Brown Skin

Vaseline has just launched a new database for people of color to search skin conditions with images that actually represent how they look on our skin. This may not seem like that big a deal, but any melanated person who has searched for something as simple as eczema or rosacea can tell you the pictures don’t look like them.

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And, it’s not just the people, but the actual conditions. Less than 6% of searches show them on skin of color. They simply don’t look the same on Black or brown skin and, quite frankly, they don’t look like the images most dermatologists study in medical school. This disparity often leaves people of color visiting countless doctors and incorrect diagnoses (or none at all).

The “See My Skin” database is part of Vaseline’s Equitable Skincare for All Program. Even more than just showing images, the database has partnered with HUED to not just help us see what these issues look like, but also connect with board-certified dermatologists that have actual experience in dealing with these issues. HUED is a digital health company centering Black, Latinx, and Indigenous populations through education, access and data. The database is powered by technology from VisualDx, a platform created by dermatologists to help healthcare professionals accurately diagnose and treat patients of color.

“People of color are negatively impacted by healthcare inequities that can lead to worse health outcomes, including caring for their skin. Whether it’s looking for answers in search, on social media, or even in textbooks – the results that resemble their skin are scarce, which can leave us feeling unseen and underrepresented,” said Kevin Tolson, brand director of U.S. Skincare at Unilever. “We created See My Skin so that people with melanin-rich skin could finally see skin conditions on themselves. Our goal is to provide solutions that ensure communities are equipped to get the care that everyone deserves. This is a step in that direction.”

In addition to being able to search the database, users can also submit their own images to help expand it. The database also offers resources for preparing for doctor appointments, including what questions to ask.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this work because this topic and this issue is something that I’m very passionate about. We need to move the needle on equitable care for all,” said Dr. Caroline Robinson, founder of Tone Dermatology and member of Vaseline’s Dermatology Review Board. “Thinking about things from a patient perspective, it’s really difficult to recognize the lack of representation for skin of color. We are becoming a more and more diverse nation, and resources like textbooks and image databases need to evolve with the changing society.”

Johnson and other board members, including Drs. Mona Gohara and Dr. Uchenna Okereke, evaluate the database for accuracy and relevance.

Click here to search the directory.