Overview The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may soon be banning hair relaxers and other hair-straightening products that contain or emit formaldehyde into the air when heated by your stylist.1,2 These formaldehyde-containing products can cause negative health effects in the short…
How To Choose Your Dermatologist
Finding a dermatologist who is knowledgeable and experienced in treating Black skin and hair is a challenge. About 13% of the U.S. population identifies as Black or African American, but only 3% of U.S. dermatologists consider themselves a part of our…
Melasma: A Common Hyperpigmentation Disorder
6-minute read Overview People with darker skin, especially Black women, are at a risk of developing melasma, a hyperpigmentation disorder typically characterized by irregularly shaped patches of light brown to gray-brown patches on the skin—mainly on the face. 1 Melasma is…
Melanin: What Gives Our Skin Its Color
2-minute read What is Melanin? Melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, is produced in cells called melanocytes, which live in the basal (deepest) layer of the epidermis of the skin. No matter our ethnicity or race, we all typically…
Hair Disorders in Black Women
6-minute read Black women are prone to losing their hair, and half of Black women in the US reported hair loss, especially on the crown or top of the scalp. 1,2 The hair of people of African descent is unique. The hair…
Treatments for Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia [CCCA]
5-minute read Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a common cause of progressive hair loss, which occurs almost exclusively in Black women ages 30 to 55 years.1 CCCA belongs to a group of disorders called cicatricial or scarring alopecias (baldness disorders) that destroy the…
Fragile Hair
3-minute read What is It? Hair fragility is hair that is dry, brittle, and breaks easily with a minimal amount of handling. 1 Fragile hair is very common in Black women, but we often put off seeking help until it leads…
Causes of Acne in Skin of Color and Options to Address It
6-minute read Overview Acne is the most common skin condition in Black people. About one in four people of color have acne. 1 Despite this, you don’t see many Black faces in ads, and few people of color are recruited for…
Chemical peels
2-minute read Acne is more common in Black people, and is one of the most common reasons why Black patients visit a dermatologist.1 Black people are also more prone to suffer from hyperpigmentation and scarring from acne than people with pale…
Laser Treatment for Acne Scars
2-minute read Inflammation and Acne Scarring Acne scarring is caused by inflammation and is especially concerning in Black people. 1 Skin darkening associated with inflammation (called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or PIH) is also common in people of color with acne. Inflammation in…