J10

The question

Why didn't my dermatologist know what to do with my skin?

What's happening in your skin

Dermatology is taught from pictures, and the pictures are overwhelmingly of light skin. Conditions that look red on light skin look brown, grey, or purple on dark skin, and clinicians trained on one can miss the other. That's not an excuse for a dismissive doctor; it's the reason so many people have met one.

What the research shows

  1. Major dermatology textbooks average 81% light-skin images; dark skin ranges from 1.4% to 6.7%.

    Adelekun et al., JAAD 2020 (L015)High

  2. 64% of medical students and 69% of junior doctors received no skin-of-color dermatology training.

    Systematic review, 2025 (L016)High

  3. Only 2% of AAD teaching events over a decade focused on skin of color.

    AAD teaching events analysis (L017)Moderate

  4. Clinicians have lower diagnostic accuracy and confidence on darker skin; delayed diagnoses follow.

    Adelekun et al., JAAD 2020 (L015); Systematic review, 2025 (L016)

Our answer

Find a dermatologist who treats skin of color and ask them directly. Bring a dated list of what you've tried.

ActionBefore your next appointment, write down every product and how long you used it.

Which product does this touch?None. Read who we are

Educational only, and not medical advice. Dr. Kita Skincare products are cosmetics. If a skin concern is persistent or painful, see a doctor.

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