PODCAST – Shining a light on ‘skinclusivity’: Founder of Kansoskin on its mission to destigmatise skin conditions

The brand was founded to provide aid to people like her brother and co-founder Abel Ang, who has endured chronic eczema since boyhood.

“I started Kansoskin because of my brother, Abel. Since he was young, he has suffered from chronic eczema and has been using steroid creams for over a decade to manage it. This caused side effect known as topical steroid withdrawal,” ​said Ang.

According to Ang, this has caused her brother to experience constantly bruised skin, nerve pain and severe insomnia as a result of the constant itching.

This condition, she adds, has affected every aspect of his life. “He couldn’t get his ideal job and was once chased out of a swimming pool by a lifeguard. People have even called him the ‘skin diseased boy’.”​

While there are many people who suffer from these conditions, Ang believes many of them are not equipped with the knowledge to manage them.

To prevent what happened to her brother from happening to others, the Simply Better Barrier cream was developed to provide relief for people without the need of steroids.

“Dry skin can trigger flare ups so it’s important to make it a habit to moisturise regularly. But in order to do that they have to first enjoy using our moisturiser. We believe if people don't enjoy how a product feels on their skin, they will not use it, even if it’s the best product in the world,” ​said Ang.

Ultimately, the sibling duo hopes to use Kansoskin as a platform to shed light and generate more empathy for the people who silently suffer from these skin conditions.

“Having a skin condition... is more than just about the outlook. These conditions can sometimes be very painful and take a toll on a person's mental health. People fear what they don't understand so I hope by creating more awareness surrounding these conditions we can reduce the stigma surrounding them," ​said Ang.

In the beginning of the year, the brand launched its Skinclusivity campaign with the Body Within Movement that showcased several people with different skin issues and their journey toward self-love and acceptance.

“We want to send out a message all skin is good skin regardless of colour, texture or condition. It's really important to show empathy towards people who are suffering from skin conditions.​
 ​said Ang.

To find out more about Joanne, Abel and Kansoskin, check out our podcast above or on Apple Podcasts.​