About Shani Francis
Shani Francis, MD MBA FAAD is a Black dermatologist practicing in Gurnee, IL. Shani sees patients at Ashira Dermatology. Shani offers in-person visits.
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Locations
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Specialties
Black patients and Dermatology
Black dermatologists: skin, hair, and scalp care with skin-of-color expertise, including conditions underdiagnosed because textbooks showed only light skin.
Only about 3 percent of U.S. dermatologists are Black (American Academy of Dermatology, 2023). This matters because many skin conditions look different on darker skin. A 2018 JAAD audit of medical school textbooks found only 4.5 percent of skin-condition images depicted dark skin. Black patients face delayed diagnosis of melanoma (which tends to appear on palms, soles, and nail beds), worse outcomes from eczema, and underrecognition of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), a scarring hair loss most common in Black women.
Conditions we cover
- Acne, keloids, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Alopecia: CCCA, traction alopecia, alopecia areata
- Psoriasis, vitiligo, sarcoidosis
- Skin cancer screening with attention to acral sites
When to book
- New or changing mole, especially on palms, soles, or nails
- Scalp pain, burning, or widening hair part
- Persistent facial bumps or razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis)
- Scarring or keloid concerns before a planned procedure
Advocacy prompts
- Can you check my scalp for scarring alopecia patterns?
- Does this mole need a biopsy given my skin type?
- What's the plan to prevent keloid if you do a procedure here?
How this listing was verified
Every provider in this directory self-identifies as Black or is listed by a self-identifying professional organization, and licensure or credentials are checked before a listing goes live.
- CMS NPI Registry License check NPI 1043472970 recorded Jul 2026
- Black Derm Directory Self-identification Source recorded Jul 2026
Frequently asked questions
Where is Shani Francis's practice located?
Shani Francis practices at 135 N. Greanleaf Street, Suite 204, Gurnee, IL 60031. Phone: 877-368-4270.
Does Shani Francis offer telehealth?
Shani Francis sees patients in person at their listed office.
What does a Dermatology treat?
Black dermatologists: skin, hair, and scalp care with skin-of-color expertise, including conditions underdiagnosed because textbooks showed only light skin.
Other Black Dermatology providers in IL
Morayo Adisa, MD
Chicago, IL
Victoria Barbosa, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAD
Chicago, IL
Laurence Bradley, Jr., MD, FAAD
Algonquin, IL
Jonith Breadon, MD
Chicago, IL
Michelle Burgess, MD, FAAD
Chicago, IL
Articles about Dermatology
How to Find a Black Dermatologist Near You: A Working Guide
Read the guide →Heat Rash on Black Skin: How to Treat It and Stop the Marks
Read the guide →Laser Hair Removal on Black Skin: Which Laser, Which Operator
Read the guide →Sweat Bumps and Folliculitis on Black Skin: How to Treat It
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