Where Are All the Black Dermatologists?
How do we close the health disparities gap in dermatology? According to experts, one way is to recruit more physicians of color.
When it comesto diversity and representation in healthcare, we still have alongway to go. Case in point: While African Americans make upmore than 13%of the country, only 3% of all board-certified dermatologists are black. What does this mean in terms of skin care? As Corey L. Hartman, M.D., a dermatologist in Birmingham, AL explains it: “A lot of things that are unique to the Black experience are cultural, and they're tied to the particular needs of our skin and hair,[so]while I don't think only Black dermatologists can deliver services effectively to Black people, there are definitely a few key things you can pick up on in a conversation that let you know whether or not someone has the cultural competency to meet your needs.”
But within the field of dermatology, which is arguably one of the most competitive medical specialties, the demand for Black dermatologists far exceeds the supply. According to reports, out of the 739 students who applied for dermatology residency in 2018, only 53 of them—or 7%—identified as Black or African American. “There are few dermatologists of color because the field of dermatology is not exempt from racism in the U.S., and more specifically, the educational system,” explains Chesahna Kindred, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Columbia, MD.
Dr. Kindred’s assessment could be bolstered by the fact that data shows minority medical students receive lower grades than their white counterparts and are less likely to be granted membership into prestigious organizations like the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha (where white students are six times as likely as black students to be accepted).
因此,大量美国population may not always receive the adequate skin, hair, and nail care that they deserve—even though all dermatologists, regardless of race, should be up to snuff on how to access and treat skin of color.
“Dermatologists have a collective responsibility to provide care to all patients that is of the highest quality ad free of bias,” said Susan C. Taylor, M.D., founder of the Skin of Color Society, in a viewpoint she published inJAMA Dermatology. “All dermatologists must make a personal commitment to work together to dismantle structural racism in dermatology.”
Change is necessary and the three black dermatologists featured below want to help lead the charge. Here are their stories, plus some of the biggest skin of color myths they’re ready to debunk.
Chesahna Kindred, M.D. (Columbia, MD)
Chesahna Kindred, M.D.is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder ofKindred Hair & Skin Center在哥伦比亚,MD-but她实际上并没有开始her career in skincare. “I earned not only my medical degree but also an MBA, and while in business school I did research in dermatology and fell in love with the field,” says Dr. Kindred, who landed her dermatology degree at Howard University. “My specialty is treating hair loss,” she says, adding that it’s a focus she felt drawn to after seeing just how many people—particularly those in the Black community—are impacted by hair thinning and balding. As one of the first dermatologists in the country to have a full-service hair salon in her practice, Dr. Kindred has been practicing dermatology for over a decade now and says one of the most exciting aspects of her experience has been seeing all the innovative new treatment options for hair loss. “When I completed dermatology residency, over-the-counter minoxidil was the only treatment that stimulated hair growth, but since then, platelet rich fibrin matrix and platelet rich plasma (PRP), lasers, exosomes, and natural supplements have all come through the pipeline.”
Aside from hair and scalp concerns, Dr. Kindred says she constantly has patients of color seek out her assistance with their skin needs. “Patients of color actively seek out experts who better understand their issues,” she says. “A week doesn't go by that a[Black]patient doesn't say, ‘I had to see you Dr. Kindred because I needed a doctor that understood my hair and skin.’”
Black Skin Myth: Oiling the scalp will make hair grow.
Truth:“Greasing the scalp can actually clog pores and promote the growth of the yeast that causes dandruff, which can hinder hair growth,” says Dr. Kindred, who instead prefers to take a multi-pronged approach when it comes to hair loss treatment and creates a tailored plan for each patient she sees.
Tip:如果你正在经历头发loss-whether receding hairline, bald spots, or a widening part—the best thing to do is see a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in hair to help determine the root cause, as well as a beneficial treatment plan for you.
Aleta Simmons, M.D. (Nashville, TN)
“When I decided I wanted to be a physician, I knew I wanted to become a dermatologist based on personal experiences[I had]with dermatologists and my skin,” saysAleta Simmons, M.D., who currently serves as the assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In her work, she’s especially passionate about meeting the needs of underserved and underrepresented communities. “After starting[my site]Get the Skin-Eto create awareness of dermatologic concerns, I was connected to Black Business Boom to highlight my expertise to Black patients and let them know I am here to care for them,” says Dr. Simmons, who notes that dermatology is the second least-diverse medical specialty out there. “In general, medicine has a lack of diversity and this is a direct result of systematic racism in which our country is rooted. If the system that keeps Black and brown students out of medical school and competitive specialties such as dermatology doesn't change, we will continue to see the scarcity in numbers.”
Dr. Simons spends most of her days teaching and at the clinic, where she enjoys educating others on health disparities, skin of color, and pigmentary disorders. “I started my training in 2013 and since then, the biggest change I’ve seen is an increase in programs desiring to address the lack of diversity in the field,” she says, noting that organizations like the National Medical Association and the Skin of Color Society have been working to address this need for decades. “It has been the work of these groups that supports and prepares Black and brown students for successfully matching into dermatology as the majority of the field strives to catch up.”
Black Skin Myth: Shea butter helps scars heal or takes away dark marks.
Truth:“After skin biopsies or surgeries, my Black patients often ask if they can use shea butter instead of plain petroleum jelly, but wounds, cuts, and scrapes heal better when they are cleaned with gentle, mild soaps and covered with plain petroleum jelly and a bandage," says Dr. Simons. "The resulting dark spots or hyperpigmentation fades with time—shea butter does not have healing properties, though it may help to keep the skin moisturized.”
Tip:To help speed the fading of hyperpigmentation from wounds, try using a product that contains vitamin C or niacinamide, both of which are proven to help brighten and even out the skin.
Corey L. Hartman, M.D. (Birmingham, AL)
Corey L. Hartman, M.D., is an expert in all thing’s cosmetic dermatology—including but not limited to botox, filler, and lasers. He’s also been practicing for well over a decade. “I’ve been a dermatologist since 2006 when I completed my residency, and in the last fifteen years, I’ve seen many more dermatologists of color successfully complete residency training,” says Hartman. “In my year, I was the only Black man in a national group of about 330 newly minted dermatologists, but today, there are more underrepresented minorities entering the field and that is rewarding.” He points out that he was also the first Black resident in his program at the University of Alabama Birmingham from 2003 to 2006. “To date there have been five others that have come behind me,” he adds.
The reason for this? “Dermatology departments are small and extremely competitive due to lifestyle and compensation,” says Dr. Hartman. “This has created an environment where test scores and despotism can weigh more than personality and clinical potential… add that to the fact that one dermatology department at one of the four HBCU medical schools closed, leaving only one at Howard University, plus the lack of Black dermatology chairs, and the problem is apparent.”
Black Skin Myth: Black skin doesn’t age.
Truth:“While it is true that darker skin is not as susceptible to the same type of damage from the sun, there is still a risk associated with prolonged and intermittent unprotected exposure to ultraviolet light," says Dr. Hartman. "While Black skin doesn’t form lines and wrinkles as easily or lose elasticity as much, it is much more likely to develop significant sagging and loss of volume, particularly in the central face.”
Tip:Wear a sunscreen that contains at least broad-spectrum SPF 30 every day—even when it’s cloudy—to protect your complexion from aging and skin cancers.Black Girl Sunscreenis a fan-favorite brand that you can score at Target.
