Black Dermatology Providers in CA

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?