Where Are We in 2026 in Skin Health Equity Progress?

In a recent segment of the Skin of Color Savvy podcast, Mona Shahriari, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine and host of The Medical Sisterhood, led a clinician-focused discussion 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, on what “skin health equity” means in practice, and why this moment represents an inflection point for the specialty.

Shahriari emphasized that the phrase “skin health equity” was chosen intentionally. For today’s dermatologists, she noted, the conversation must extend beyond isolated diagnoses or cosmetic concerns to encompass outcomes, access, education, and trust. What once was discussed quietly “in the hallways” is now visible in the literature, on social media, and across industry initiatives. The shift, she suggested, is from performative concern to measurable accountability: clinicians, institutions, and companies are increasingly being asked to demonstrate what they are doing differently.

Taylor reflected on why this period feels distinct from prior waves of discussion. In her view, one of the most tangible differences is therapeutic progress in diseases that have historically and disproportionately affected patients with skin of color. She pointed to hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and atopic dermatitis as examples in which clinicians now have more effective and safer treatment options than in years past. These therapeutic advances, she explained, are complemented by educational gains, including expanded image collections and textbooks that more comprehensively depict dermatologic disease across a spectrum of skin tones. Such resources are critical for improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing delays in care.

Elbuluk agreed that the landscape has evolved from dialogue to accountability. She observed that journals, conferences, pharmaceutical companies, and even the cosmeceutical industry are now explicitly prioritizing health equity. Whereas prior limitations, such as a lack of diverse representation in research or educational materials, might have been passively accepted, there is now an expectation that organizations address these gaps. According to Elbuluk, that expectation signals a readiness within the field to pivot from aspiration to implementation.

Shahriari also framed equity as a patient safety issue. As the US population becomes increasingly diverse, she argued, the inability to effectively diagnose and manage dermatologic disease across heterogeneous skin types risks compromising care. For practicing clinicians, this reframing underscores that equity is not ancillary to core dermatologic practice; it is foundational to delivering safe, high-quality care.

The discussion also addressed ongoing gaps. Taylor highlighted clinical trials as an area of both progress and unfinished work. She cited efforts to increase the diversity of both investigators and study participants, noting initiatives supported by professional organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Trials intentionally designed to evaluate therapies in patients with skin of color represent an encouraging step, but she stressed that sustained commitment is necessary to ensure study populations reflect real-world demographics.

Beyond research, Elbuluk pointed to changes in conference programming and educational content. Speakers are becoming more intentional about including diverse imagery in lectures, and sessions addressing conditions that disproportionately affect patients of color are more visible. Importantly, she noted that skin of color dermatology is increasingly integrated throughout meetings and curricula, rather than siloed as a standalone topic, an evolution that reinforces its relevance to all clinicians.

Collectively, the panelists conveyed cautious optimism. Meaningful gains have been made in therapeutics, education, and representation, but structural and clinical gaps remain. For dermatologists in practice, the message was clear: progress matters only if accompanied by honest appraisal and continued action to ensure equitable, evidence-based care for all patients.

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