Skin of Color Savvy: Why 2026 Is the Year of Skin Equity, With Susan Taylor, MD, Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, and Mona Shahriari, MD

Welcome to Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color!

In the latest Skin of Color Savvy episode, hosted by Skin of Color Society (SOCS) leaders and produced by HCPLive, Mona Shahriari, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine and host of The Medical Sisterhood, led a forward-looking conversation on advancing skin health equity with Susan Taylor, MD, the Bernett Johnson Endowed Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, board-certified dermatologist and Professor at the USC Keck School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology.

Framing 2026 as a potential “pivotal year,” Shahriari guided a discussion that moved beyond awareness of disparities toward measurable action. Taylor reflected on how the current moment differs from the past, citing tangible therapeutic advances in conditions that disproportionately affect patients with skin of color, including hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and atopic dermatitis. She also pointed to growing educational resources—such as expanded image libraries, textbooks, and conference programming—as evidence that skin of color dermatology is no longer confined to side conversations but embedded in mainstream discourse.

Elbuluk emphasized accountability as a defining shift. Industry, journals, and conference organizers are increasingly expected to demonstrate meaningful inclusion in research, imagery, and programming. However, both she and Taylor stressed that progress remains incomplete, particularly in clinical trial representation. They highlighted the importance of diversifying trial sites, training more investigators from underrepresented backgrounds, and intentionally designing studies that capture endpoints relevant to diverse patient populations—including pigmentary sequelae and disease burden nuances.

Education was another focal point. Elbuluk underscored the need for standardized residency training in skin of color dermatology, while Taylor highlighted continuing medical education and integrated conference sessions that compare presentations across skin tones. Both reinforced that competency in treating diverse populations is no longer optional in an increasingly heterogeneous US patient base.

The discussion also addressed advocacy, including collaborative efforts to address policy issues such as pseudofolliculitis barbae in military service members. Looking ahead to emerging technologies, Elbuluk cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) tools must be built on diverse datasets to avoid perpetuating bias, while Taylor stressed the importance of dermatologists occupying decision-making rooms and spaces.

In closing, the speakers urged grassroots action—whether by deepening knowledge in unfamiliar disease states, joining advocacy committees, or simply reaching out to colleagues for guidance. As Elbuluk noted, progress requires sustained momentum, and as Taylor emphasized, achieving equity will depend on collective effort across the dermatology community.

To learn more about SOCS’s programs and initiatives, visit Skin of Color Society.

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