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Journal Scan / Commentary · October 29, 2020

Bandages for Children With Skin of Color

Pediatric Dermatology

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

• Many factors contribute to health care disparities among patients with skin of color. One such disparity that the author draws attention to is the fact that most bandages, including those available in most dermatology offices, are specifically designed for patients with lighter skin types. This may cause feelings of isolation and exclusion among patients, particularly children, with skin of color visiting dermatology offices.

• This article provides examples of several suppliers of bandages with various skin tones. Although a simple change, this consideration may strengthen inclusion and acceptance of all patients visiting dermatology offices.

– Margaret Hammond, MD

Written by

 

 

Ashish C. Bhatia MD, FAAD 

Written by

 

 

Eliot N. Mostow MD, MPH 

Written by

 

 

RobertT. Brodell MD, FAAD

Systemic racism medicine takes many forms. This is a beautifully written editorial that relates to a simple measure that all physicians can take, especially dermatologists who are regularly creating wounds from biopsies or skin cancer treatment. We applaud the author, along with the pediatric dermatology editorial board, for publishing this piece. Making our patients more comfortable "in their skin" is a core component of what we do, and we ought to adopt this simple suggestion to consider dressings that match skin tone.

Thanks to Dr. Maggie Hammond for suggesting this article for inclusion, recognizing this as a topic for an editorial rather than research per se.

Abstract

The act of healing is a uniquely humanizing experience ubiquitously symbolized by the application of a bandage, an action that occurs daily in dermatology and pediatric clinics. The beige bandages we use in clinics are merely a visible symbol and reinforcement of what is considered standard and what is a deviation from the norm. One hundred years ago, Johnson & Johnson was a pioneer in the field when they invented the adhesive bandage. One hundred years ago, they set an industry standard by creating, exporting, and upholding a normative standard for practically all adhesive bandages in medicine, including birth control and nicotine patches to nasal strips. It took one hundred years after its inception and with over 100 billion Band-Aids produced with cartoons and superheroes, and in countless forms, for the inventors of bandages to offer a multitude of skin tones. Can we as healers stick with them? Or, can we implore ourselves to decolonize our clinics with a seemingly insignificant yet powerful symbolic gesture that lets our patients know that they are seen and not deviations from the norm? The conversation of diversity and inclusion in health and healing and institutional racism is obviously much deeper and profound than adhesive bandages. However, we can choose to acknowledge and celebrate diversity and inclusion in our practices as much as we can because it is significant to all of our patients, children, and adults alike.

Pediatric Dermatology

A Plea for Making Brown Bandages Stick

Pediatr Dermatol 2020 Oct 17;[EPub Ahead of Print], LO Oyesiku