Thank you to all those who attended our first skin of color event featuring Dr. Chinelo Ikpeama, UTMB Dermatology Residency graduate.
Dr. Ikpeama discussed "common things being common" in dermatologic practice. Examples included acne, rosacea, psoriasis, alopecia, hidradenitis suppurativa and other common diseases that appear differently in skin of color and/or present different complications and outcomes that trainees and practitioners should be aware of. Acne in skin of color is often complicated by severe post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). In fact, Ikpeama suggests that PIH is sometimes more common of a complaint than the acne itself, as darker skin is more prone to cosmetically disfiguring hyperpigmentation.
Furthermore, many skin of color patients often present with a chief complaint of hair loss, or alopecia. There are many variants of alopecia, including central cicatricial centrifugal alopecia (CCCA), traction alopecia, lichen planopilaris, androgenetic alopecia and more. Alopecia in skin of color is often complicated by late diagnoses, in which patients initially present with many destroyed hair follicles. Not only is it important to understand the prevalence of, and cultural aspects that lead to alopecia in skin of color communities, but it also important to gain patient buy-in by recommending biopsy and considering an aggressive treatment approach.
While these are only but a few examples of topics discussed by Dr. Ikpeama, understanding issues involving skin of color is essential in the establishment of adequate and diverse patient care. You can join the skin of color society (SOCS) to continue learning more about skin of color by visiting the following link.
https://skinofcolorsociety.org/about-socs/our-mission/