I always knew that the dermatology and cosmetics industry was not inclusive; that’s why I started Nehal & Co. But I wanted to dig deeper to understand why this is the case, how it happens, and what we can do to advocate for change. I recently read an article that reviewed 52 dermatology journals and found that, on average, only 16.8% of articles focused on skin of color (Wilson BN, Sun M, Ashbaugh AG, et al.). No wonder dermatologists do not feel prepared to assess and diagnose conditions for patients of color. This lack of knowledge leads to improper treatment or delayed diagnoses, which could be life-threatening.

This issue also impacts the cosmetics industry. Brands often fail to understand the diverse needs of skin of color—what skin concerns are prevalent, what ingredients to avoid, and more. We need to do better by recognizing that this is a problem. Journal editors need to step up and create inclusive resources so that dermatologists, chemists, and researchers can all be well-equipped to do their jobs.

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