Skin Equality

Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of my Grandmother’s death. Below is a picture of her with my Dad.

My Nana had the most beautiful skin I’ve ever seen. Everyone agrees on this point. Every night she used what she called “Campana” on her skin. I remember that it smelled bad, and that she only used it at night. In my memory she used it nightly without fail; I even saw a tub of Campana on her dresser on the day she died. I later learned that the product was probably the very popular Mexican product, “Pomada de la Campana”, often called “the miracle cream”. It means “clear my sister’s melasma”.

Perhaps she never developed melasma - which is a skin discoloration on the face that effects many Latina’s - because of the Campana. I visited a highly regarded dermatology practice in Soho to seek relief from the brown patches on my face after innumerable hairdressers and even my eye doctor urged me to fix the problem. Without prompting a nail technician recently whispered that while her manager was out she could perform some sort of laser treatment on my brown spots for half price. There is no adverse health reason to get rid of melasma, only vanity. After two visits, hundreds of dollars in products, and an outbreak of hives every time I put the very pricey French sunscreen on my skin, my brown spots are still with me.

My experience was a common one described in an article published last week by USA Today on skin color and dermatology. The Skin of Color Society has been growing rapidly over the last four years as the industry recognizes the need for differing treatment models based on skin tone. The organization is supported by Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, and other industry giants. It looks like a noble effort, thought it doesn’t help me figure out which dermatologists understand my skin type. Don’t all of them study all kinds of skin? With the long list of causes that need our urgent attention, do we have to add equality for my skin patches to the list?

Johnson & Johnson is preparing for the changing demographics in the U.S. like every other retailer. It’s been slow for industry to expand their view of the “norm”. When the birth control patch was introduced by Ortho Evra many women objected to its description,”flesh tone”, which was only available in the color of flesh for many Caucasian women.

Perhaps if I had used Campana I wouldn’t be worried about brown spots. I am vacillating between asking my Dad to pick up some Campana for me next time he crosses the border, and finding a new dermatologist with a specialty in brown skin. The bigger issue perhaps is whether I fight the societal norms that place such a high value on appearance, or whether I succumb to my vanity and “improve” my appearance.