Vaseline is championing change for true equity in skincare for Black and Brown skin and partnered with award-winning actress and advocate for people of colour, Regina King as part of the new Vaseline campaign
For the last 150 years, Vaseline has been committed to helping heal skin everywhere, but this goal can’t be achieved if part of the Vaseline community doesn’t have access to equal care due to systemic racism. Healthcare inequities continue to negatively impact Black and Latinx communities which can lead to worse health outcomes – and this includes skin health and access to dermatological care.
That’s why the brand is championing change for true equity in skincare for Black and Brown skin and partnered with award-winning actress and advocate for people of colour, Regina King as part of the new Vaseline campaign, Equitable Skincare for All.
Born out of The Vaseline Healing Project, an aid effort in partnership with nonprofit Direct Relief, Vaseline’s Equitable Skincare for All commitment focuses on the advancement of training, providing resources and education to better equip dermatologists and medical practitioners to accurately treat, diagnose and care for the skin of colour.
Skin health for Black and Latinx communities continues to be underserved and without access to proper care comes to the likelihood of misdiagnosis or no diagnosis leaving them at risk for long-term consequences. This is in part the case as nearly half of dermatologists say they were not adequately trained to treat the skin of colour. Representation is also an issue in dermatological care with only 3% of practising dermatologists identified as Black and 4.2% identified as Latinx.
“I love being a Black American woman. Using my platform to celebrate who I am, affords me the opportunity to remind people who look past the dissimilitude, that the inequities experienced by Black people still exist. Black and Brown people have been at a disadvantage for far too long. The lack of access to healthcare resources is still a huge concern,” said Regina King, Vaseline Brand Ambassador and Creative Director. “It’s important to shed a light on the inequalities that exist and be part of the solution alongside a brand that does as well.”
Vaseline is dedicated to creating change to heal the skin of those who don’t currently receive quality and impartial care by focusing on three important areas: education for skincare professionals, resources for the community, and providing access to care.
In partnership with Medscape, the leading online global destination for physicians and healthcare professionals (HCPs) worldwide, Vaseline has sponsored the development of a programme to equip dermatologists and medical practitioners to better treat, diagnose and care for the skin of colour. These learning modules will cover treatment for common skin conditions such as acne and scarring, seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis specific to the skin of colour.
To further meet the skin health needs for people of colour with trusted resources and education, Vaseline has partnered with HUED, a first-of-its-kind healthcare technology startup and website that connects patients with medical professionals that specifically understand their cultural, physical, and mental health needs. Through this partnership, Vaseline co-created a search tool specifically focused on helping people identify and connect with dermatologists of colour and those experienced in treating skin of colour.
“HUED is on a mission to bridge the gap between dermatology and people of colour,” said HUED Founder and CEO, Kimberly Wilson. “Vaseline is equally as passionate about providing people of colour with the resources needed to care for their skin, so we couldn’t have asked for a better partner to launch this invaluable tool.”
The online platform will also offer educational resources that provide expert recommendations on how to treat and monitor skin at home, understanding when to seek a dermatologist for proper care and how to best prepare for an appointment with the right questions and what to expect.
