Daily Challenges as a Dermatologist Helping Underserved Patients

In this segment of the latest episode of the Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color, hosted by Skin of Color Society (SOCS) leaders and produced by HCPLive, Abrahem Kazemi, MD, reflects on the evolving challenges and rewards of modern dermatologic practice, highlighting how resilience, clinical expertise, and a commitment to underserved populations intersect in his daily work.

He describes challenge as a constant in dermatology—one that has been shaped in part by his residency training in New York City during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having trained at the New York Medical College Department of Dermatology in Manhattan, he experienced a dramatic shift from routine clinical education to frontline emergency response. Working in special pathogen units and witnessing severe, often fatal cases of respiratory failure, he notes that the experience demanded courage and adaptability. That period, he explains, instilled in him the “thick skin” and decisiveness that now inform his approach to complex dermatologic cases.

In current practice in Northern Virginia, Kazemi sees between 60 and 80 patients per day and is among a limited number of board-certified dermatologists in the state who accept Medicaid. As a result, he frequently manages patients who present with advanced disease due to delayed access to care. He notes that these cases often include advanced skin cancers in rural populations, severe hidradenitis suppurativa, and scarring alopecias in patients of color. Beyond diagnostic and procedural complexity, he identifies treatment adherence and follow-up as ongoing challenges, particularly among patients navigating socioeconomic instability. Education, clear communication, and reinforcement of compliance, he emphasizes, are essential components of care. Despite the obstacles, he frames this work as both a responsibility and a source of professional pride.

The segment also highlights his focused clinical interests in skin of color, alopecias, hidradenitis suppurativa, and complex psoriasis. He discusses the psychosocial burden of hair loss disorders, particularly in women and men of color, and points to expanding therapeutic options as a promising development. Oral minoxidil and dutasteride, among other systemic therapies, are becoming more mainstream, while procedural interventions such as low-level laser therapy, platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich fibrin, and microneedling are gaining traction within evidence-based frameworks.

He expresses particular interest in central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), noting prior dermatopathologic research correlating fibrosis with disease severity. The condition, he explains, remains underrecognized and often mischaracterized, underscoring the need for specialized expertise in melanin-rich skin. In hidradenitis suppurativa, he highlights the addition of newer biologics to the treatment armamentarium and anticipates the potential impact of emerging oral JAK inhibitors.

Throughout the segment, Kazemi underscores a broader theme: dermatology is rarely “just skin deep.” Clinical acumen must be paired with perseverance, advocacy, and a willingness to care for populations that others may overlook—an ethos that continues to shape his evolving practice.

Editor’s note: This summary was edited with the help of AI tools.

References

1. Kazemi A. Skin of Color Savvy: Serving the Underserved in Dermatology, With Abrahem Kazemi, MD. HCPLive. February 16, 2026. Accessed February 17, 2026. https://www.hcplive.com/view/skin-of-color-savvy-serving-underserved-dermatology-abrahem-kazemi-md.