Whether you’ve had a rash or some skin irritation, chances are you’ve taken to Google to get more information. However, our search results are not created equal. When people of color search online for skin care advice, they are given results that don’t adequately represent their own needs. In fact, less than 6% of image-based search results depict conditions on people of color’s skin, which might make it difficult to identify and treat skin disorders if the necessary information is not available. It is for this reason that Vaseline® has joined forces with HUED and VisualDx, two digital health companies dedicated to reducing healthcare disparities to launch See My Skin as a way to help close the access and care gap for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous populations. In combining forces, See My Skin was formed as the only online database dedicated to search conditions on skin of color and link individuals with the right treatment they need.

Vaseline®, the original skin protectant, has been mending skin for over 150 years and is committed to giving healthy skin to everyone, even those who may not otherwise have access to such health care options. However, this can’t be done if a portion of the Vaseline® community doesn’t have sufficient representation or access to equitable treatment owing due to systematic racism that affects medical standards and algorithmic search.

“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,” says Kevin Tolson, Brand Director of US 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.”

See My Skin, as an educational resource, aids users by showing the results they desire while looking for skin disorders. See My Skin’s search experience assists in providing consumers with access to excellent and unbiased skincare by utilizing a strong database of board-certified dermatologists and the opportunity to directly schedule an appointment. The site also provides educational tools that provide professional suggestions on how to treat and monitor skin at home, when to consult a dermatologist for optimal treatment, and how to best prepare for a consultation by asking the correct questions. The community is urged not just to search for resources, but also to submit their own photographs to assist expand the representation of skin of color on a continuous basis.

Vaseline’s Dermatology Review Board, which includes Dr. Mona Gohara, MD, FAAD, Dr. Uchenna Okereke, MD, FAAD, and Dr. Caroline Robinson, MD, FAAD, independently evaluates all information on the platform for accuracy and relevancy.

Founder of Tone Dermatology, Dr. Caroline Robinson, MD, FAAD, said, “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. 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.”

Vaseline’s most recognizable product is being reimagined to honor the company’s commitment to ensure that everyone has access to good skin as part of the launch. The limited-edition Vaseline Healing Jelly artwork contains a QR code leading to resources, inclusive of the See My Skinplatform. Visit www.seemyskin.com for information to help identify the best dermatologist to take care of your skin, and see how Vaseline is working towards equality in skincare at www.vaseline.com/equitableskincare.