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Importance: Clinical trials remain the cornerstone for determining the safety and efficacy of an intervention. A diverse participant pool in dermatology clinical trials is critical to ensure that results are generalizable among the patient population who will ultimately depend on the efficacy of the intervention. The Skin of Color Society hosted the inaugural Meeting the Challenge Summit: Diversity in Dermatology Clinical Trials in Washington, DC, from June 10 to 11, 2022. The summit was an interactive and collaborative effort to advance discussions regarding the need for broader inclusion of racial and ethnic minority patients in dermatology clinical trials., Observations: The summit focused on 3 principal areas: (1) understanding the current clinical trials landscape; (2) breaking down patient, clinician, industry, and regulatory barriers; and (3) effecting change through a diversity-focused strategy. The program hosted thought-provoking panel talks and discussions with various stakeholder groups, including a keynote presentation from the family of Henrietta Lacks., Conclusions and Relevance: Panel discussions and insightful presentations from physicians, industry leaders, community trailblazers, and patients fostered new collaborations. The summit provided recommendations and suggested strategies for future initiatives designed to increase the representation of minority individuals in dermatology clinical trials.

Health disparities are differences in health or disease incidence, prevalence, severity, or disease burden that are experienced by disadvantaged populations. Their root causes are attributed in large part to socially determined factors, including educational level of attainment, socioeconomic status, and physical and social environments. There is an expanding body of evidence documenting differences in dermatologic health status among underserved populations. In this review, the authors highlight inequities in outcomes across 5 dermatologic conditions, including psoriasis, acne, cutaneous melanoma, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

There is no established standard of care for treating central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), and treatment approaches vary widely. To develop consensus statements regarding the use of various pharmacological therapies in treating adults with CCCA. We invited 27 dermatologists with expertise in hair and scalp disorders to participate in a 3-round modified Delphi study between January and March 2023. Statements met strong consensus if 75% of respondents agreed or disagreed. Statements met moderate consensus if 55% or more but less than 75% agreed or disagreed. In round 1, 5 of 33 (15.2%) statements met strong consensus, followed by 9 of 28 (32.1%) in round 2. After the final round 3 meeting, strong consensus was reached for 20 of 70 (28.6%) overall statements. Two statements achieved moderate consensus. This study included only English-speaking, US-based dermatologists and did not consider nonpharmacological therapies. Despite varying opinions among dermatologists, consensus was reached for several statements to help clinicians manage CCCA. We also highlight areas that lack expert consensus with the goal of advancing research and therapeutic options for CCCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether differences in race and ethnicity affect the usage of dermatological services. Methods: Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were used to study trends in ethnic/race rates of outpatient dermatology office visits among publicly and privately insured patients from 2005-2010. In multivariable models, we explored the magnitude of ethnic/race differences in dermatology visit attendance for patients with public vs. private insurance. Results: From 2005-2010, dermatology visit utilization increased among insured Hispanics, but not among insured non-Hispanic Blacks or whites. Visits were less frequent by those with public insurance compared to private insurance. Privately and publicly insured visits were less common for non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics compared to whites after adjustment for patient demographics and primary visit diagnosis. Racial and ethnic differences in visit utilization rates were most apparent among non-referred visits. However, primary diagnoses for non-referred visits were similar across races and ethnicities, which suggests that differences in utilization may result from factors unrelated to clinical indications for care. Conclusion: Ethnic/race differences in the use of dermatological services in the United States may result from patient preferences for dermatologic care or health system related factors (e.g., insurance coverage regulations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycosis fungoides, the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, has a higher incidence and poorer prognosis in African-Americans. The factors that may be contributing to this disparity are presented in the context of a health disparities framework that includes discussion of patient-related factors such as race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and biological differences, provider-related factors such as patient-provider communication and the competing demands for providers' time, and health care system-related factors such as access to health care and workforce diversity. The changing demographics of the USA emphasize the need to understand and address health disparities in mycosis fungoides and other dermatologic diseases. The framework presented here can be used to examine disparities in other dermatologic conditions and advance health disparities research in dermatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]