Updates in the understanding and treatments of skin and hair disorders in women of color

Individualswith darker skin types comprise themajority of the global population. By the year 2050, the United States census data suggest that at least 50% of Americans will represent darker racial ethnic groups. There are myriad cutaneous advantages associated with deeply pigmented skin. The unique photoprotective effects of increased epidermal melanin minimize photodamage and decrease the incidence of skin cancer. However, the increased melanin content and the labile features of melanocytes in pigmented skin have several key disadvantages. Individuals with skin of color more often develop distressing disorders characterized by hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, which significantly impact quality of life. Darker skin types, in particular, Africans and African-Americans are more prone to keloid formation. Fibroblasts are large and numerous in dark skin suggesting active biosynthesis. This heightened activity of fibroblasts is thought to play a role in the formation of keloids and hypertrophic scars. Moreover, the unique morphologic hair features of individuals of African ancestry are associated with special grooming needs, procedures, and hair disorders often related to the grooming practices. The article by Lawson C et al., Updates in the Understanding and Treatments of Skin and Hair Disorders in Women of Color, summa-