Written by: Ellis Schroeder
Dermatology remains the least diverse medical specialty. Despite this, many black dermatologists have and are continuing to pioneer our understanding of the skin while fighting the racial inequalities persistent in the medical field.
These days, skin education is pumping through social media platforms by skin professionals. Of these, Dr. Alexis Stephens dominates. Her unique approach and knowledge regarding black skin provide the necessary information to patients and viewers, all while understanding black cultural values. Through this, Dr. Stephens helps guide those of every race through culturally specific, accurate, and evidence-based treatment plans in her office. She debunks misinformation on her social media accounts and supplies skincare recommendations for all. Social media would not be the same without her!
Another social media skin superstar is Dr. Corey L. Hartman. Over the past few years, he has accumulated about 160k followers across his Tiktok and Instagram accounts. He has shared excellent skin advice and stories of pop culture icons, himself, and his family through his platform. Despite all odds, he has remained on top as one of the best dermatologists out there.
Of the advice surrounding diet and wellness regarding the skin, much of it is backed by false claims and pseudoscience reasoning; however, Dr. Elyse Love has been the holy fact in the pool of fiction. She has created a unique approach to well-being through diet, fitness, and skin. Dr. Love is only a cosmetic dermatologist, but a two-time participant of the NYC half-marathon, and a blogger. A good way to describe Dr. Love’s excellence is a wellness-promoting, skin-educated, passionate bundle of knowledge.
Last, but certainly not least, is the infamous Dr. Theodore Kenneth Lawless. Dr. Lawless was the first-ever black dermatologist. He has changed the world of skin forever, both with his inspiring risk-taking and his revolutionary research in the treatment of syphilis. If that isn’t enough, he was one of the first doctors to treat cancer with radium. He passed away in 1971, but his legacy lives on and continues to inspire future dermatologists and those in the black community.
Without these dermatologists, the field of skin science would not be the same. Every one of them - and many others - offers something great to the world, in their excellence, teaching, and culture. Black history month isn’t the only time to appreciate and learn about black excellence, we encourage readers to continue to learn about black culture and the black people changing the world, so please check out our list of further readings.
Further readings:
Disclaimer: This organization's content is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health-related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this website should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.
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