We’re finally embracing the beauty of morena skin—but part of that love means understanding the unique skin issues that come with it, too. Aside from the usual concerns like hyperpigmentation or acne, many morenas also deal with skin conditions that often go undetected or misdiagnosed because they show up differently on darker skin tones.

We turned to Dr. Raissa Francisco-Pasion, board-certified dermatologist and expert in both aesthetic and medical dermatology, to help us understand two common culprits: eczema and seborrheic keratosis—what they look like, why they happen, and how to care for them the right way.

Meet the expert: Dr. Raissa Francisco-Pasion

Dr. Francisco-Pasion is a fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society with 16 years of experience. Beyond clinical practice, she is also a lecturer, key opinion leader, and a trainer for injectables, thread lifting, and biostimulators. With a background in psychology as her pre-medicine program, she deeply understands the connection between skin health and mental health. “The skin is the largest organ of the body and skin conditions can have a significant impact on a patient’s self-esteem and quality of life,” she shares. For Dr. Pasion, dermatology is more than just a profession—it’s a privilege. “I am blessed to be able to do meaningful work that I truly enjoy and find great satisfaction in,” she says. 


Apart from hyperpigmentation and acne, it’s not unusual for morenas to experience eczema and seborrheic keratosis. Dr. Franciscio-Pasion shares with Allure Philippines, in her own words, about these rather common skin issues that morenas face.

What Is Eczema—and How Does It Look on Morena Skin?

Eczema is an allergic disorder that appears as an itchy, inflamed, reddish rash, with scaly patches in lighter skin tones. However, in darker skin types, eczema presents itself in a brown or greyish color, also with scaling and itchiness. Eczema patients can also have dry skin and dark circles around their eyes, which can be more pronounced in morenas. Oftentimes, when it heals, there’s also resulting hyperpigmentation, or darkening.

What Is Seborrheic Keratosis? 

Seborrheic keratosis often affects the face, neck, chest, and back. It appears as dark, raised growths that look waxy and scaly, or as a raised, warty plaque on the skin, ranging in color from flesh to dark brown. In morenas, they tend to appear in darker colors such as brown to blackish brown, making them more visible. They are often mistaken as warts or moles, and can also mimic skin cancer so it is important to have a dermatologist check any suspicious or rapidly growing lesions. 

Treatment Tips for Eczema and SK

The treatment of eczema is the same for all patients, regardless of race, ethnicity, or skin color. Patients are advised to use gentle cleansers and to moisturize their skin frequently. For some cases, topical and oral steroids may be needed, or even systematic treatments, which are medications that treat the entire body. Regular monitoring with a dermatologist should also be done.

Seborrheic keratoses are usually benign and non-contagious, so they don’t even need to be treated, unless the patient is bothered by them. Treatment options include removal via cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), electrodessication (scraping it away and cauterizing it with an electric current), ablative laser therapy (using a laser to remove outer layers of damaged skin), and shave excision (shaving them off with a scalpel, and if needed, cauterizing afterwards). For morena skin, cryotherapy may not be advisable, because this can cause hypopigmentation or lightening of the skin in the areas treated. 

Building a Skin Routine That Supports Healing

Many cultures associate beauty with an even complexion, regardless of whether it’s light or dark skin. I always educate patients on the importance of maintaining a good skin barrier. The skin barrier is the dead outer layer of the skin that keeps the skin protected from external factors that can damage it. When your skin barrier is impaired, this makes you more prone to irritation, wounds and allergic reactions. 

In order to maintain a healthy skin barrier, a skin care routine using mild and gentle cleansers and the liberal use of moisturizers must be mainstays for treatment for eczema. Gentle cleansers and moisturizers are also advised for seborrheic keratosis as dry, irritated skin can cause these to become itchy. 

A Final Word: Love Your Morena Skin 

Caring for your morena skin goes hand-in-hand with embracing it. Morena skin, from the lightest tan to the deepest brown, represents natural Filipino beauty. It’s refreshing to see the younger generation of Filipinas embracing their natural skin tone, and exhibiting the changing attitudes on Filipino beauty. There are so many advantages to being a morena—a natural brown glow, skin that weathers aging better, and less wrinkles (if you avoid the sun) as you get older. 

Read more about skin issues morenas face: