Are Women of Color Well Represented in Skin Aging Prevention Information?

Recently, investigators looked to gain insight on how women of varying ethnicities approached treatments for skin aging prevention, and how satisfied they were with their needs being met in the current market. The results were presented in a poster session at the Skin of Color Update meeting on September 9, 2022, at the Sheraton Times Square in New York City.

The researchers used a cross-sectional survey to explore the view of Black, Asian, South Asian, and Latinx women around the United States. The online survey collected data from women aged 18 to 70 years from May 11 to May 25 of this year. Survey participants were recruited from multiple internet panels and digital fingerprints were used to avoid fraudulent responses.

Participants were asked demographic and skin aging prevention questions, such as the importance of skin aging prevention; what they did to seek skin care; and what their sources of information were for skin aging prevention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a logistic regression controlling for confounding variables assessed representation in skin aging prevention information across cohorts.

In this study of 1646 participants, most felt that skin aging prevention was important to them (with "0" used as not at all important to "10" extremely important, the range response was 7.3-8.2).

Frequent reasons for seeking skin care treatment included "fine lines and wrinkles," "poor skin texture," and "dyspigmentation." Cost and a response of "I take care of it myself," were the 2 most reported reasons for not seeking professional care.

When it came time to respond to "My race/ethnicity, gender and age [are] well represented in the sources of information available to me," older women who identified themselves as Black or African American alone; Asian alone; 1 race alone; or 2 or more race cohorts (relative to the Control White alone population) were less likely to agree with this statement.

Investigators felt that this was the initial step in understanding how women of color view aging skin prevention. They suggest that physicians should learn about their patients' skin concerns from both a clinical and cultural point of view, and find out if, as a particular ethnic group, if they feel underrepresented, a good place to begin this conversation to provide optimal care.

Reference
Boyd CM, Callender VD, Ginn LR, et al. Do women with skin of color think they are well represented in skin aging prevention information? Skin of Color Update meeting. Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. New York, New York. September 9, 2022.