Vitiligo significantly affects a person’s health-related quality of life (HRQL) although, a small number of generic, and disease-specific, dermatologic HRQL measures exist. Currently, no vitiligo-specific instrument is available to capture disease-targeted concerns and issues. We'd like to share the research presented at the 2011 Annual American Academy of Dermatology Meeting that highlighted the development and validation of a vitiligo-specific quality-of-life instrument (VitiQoL).
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Find answers to many questions surrounding the diagnoses and treatment of psoriasis in skin of color patients. How often do you see psoriasis in skin of color? Do psoriasis patients of color get the same red patches as Caucasian patients do?
Make sure you don't mistake signs of psoriasis in patients of color. Click here to read the full article published in the April 2016 of The Dermatologist and endorsed by the National Psoriasis Foundation.
“Medical institutions can create environments that either facilitate or curb microaggressions. Microaggressions go beyond race and extend into socially constructed identities that embody privilege in different ways, such as income, social capital, religion, ableness, gender, and sexual orientation. These acts do not respect boundaries—they exist in our personal, academic, and work lives and are detrimental to the training and well-being of our colleagues and trainees.”
By 2044, persons of color will represent over half of the United States population, increasing the demand for trained experts for treating those with skin of color.
Click to view a poster detailing the full list of organizations that are providing residents with specialized training and multicultural skin centers that are working to treat patients of color.
The Skin of Color Society (SOCS) took shape in 2004 in an effort promote awareness, support research, and to build a professional community which includes over 250 members as of March 2016.
In an attempt to mirror the communities served, the SOCS Diversity in Action Task Force was created in 2016 to increase and promote diversity within dermatology.
It is a myth that skin of color individuals do not require the use of sunscreen or as much sunscreen as fair skinned individuals. While skin of color does not tan or burn easily, the damage caused by UV rays still occurs with sun exposure. According to the Skin of Cancer Foundation, the incidence of skin cancer in Hispanics is increasing. Individuals with skin of color may have more serious consequences from skin cancer than Caucasians.
In a video perspective from the 2016 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, Amy J. McMichael, MD, discusses her presentation reviewing pearls on treating pigmentation in patients with skin of color. Dr. McMichael is professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina and President of the Skin of Color Society.
For more preventive and skin care details, please visit The American Academy of Dermatology.