It is vitally important for patients of color to seek care from a board-certified dermatologist with special training and expertise in treating skin of color.
There can be significant differences and nuances in the ways various dermatologic diseases and conditions present in melanin-rich skin, as compared to the way they might appear in lighter skin types. Common skin conditions like eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, and acne can present with unique manifestations in skin of color.
For example, the typical redness or erythema that characterizes psoriasis or eczema in lighter skin may present in different shades of red, violet, brown, or gray in darker skin.
There are different hair and scalp disorders, as well as conditions like keloids and pigmentation disorders, that disproportionately affect people of color.
Some dermatologic diseases or conditions in people with skin of color can be misdiagnosed, diagnosed at later stages, or under-treated due to gaps in training and a historic lack of images of skin of color in medical textbooks, along with other contributors to healthcare disparities affecting populations of color. While strides have been made to better represent skin of color in medical literature, there is a continuing need for greater education and training in skin of color dermatology.
Addressing knowledge gaps
The Skin of Color Society is deeply committed to addressing these gaps in knowledge through research, education, mentorship, and advocacy efforts.
It is vitally important for patients of color to seek care from a board-certified dermatologist with special training and expertise in treating skin of color, who can make an accurate diagnosis, understand the special needs and subtleties affecting people of color, and provide patients with treatment options to effectively manage their condition.
In general, dermatologists are physicians who have been extensively trained over many years, beginning with an undergraduate degree, four years of medical school training, internship, dermatology residency, (often) fellowship training, and clinical practice, amounting to thousands of hours of clinical training.
A board-certified dermatologist with special training and expertise in treating skin of color is uniquely qualified to properly identify, diagnose, treat, and manage a wide range of common and rare dermatologic issues affecting the hair, skin, nails, and mucous membranes in individuals with skin of color. Moreover, a dermatologist who is proficient in skin of color will be best equipped to treat each individual with cultural sensitivity, humility, and competency, which is a highly important, integral aspect of the patient experience that leads to the best outcomes.
