Dermatology for Darker Skin Tones

Dermatologic disease often presents differently on darker skin, yet most clinical training defaults to presentations seen in lighter skin—leaving a real gap in diagnostic accuracy. This course closes that gap, teaching skin anatomy and physiology, then the range of dermatologic conditions through the lens of skin of color. Start with the epidermis, dermis, and skin derivatives, then see how melanocyte biology shapes clinical presentation. From there, work through inflammatory conditions (acne, eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis), pigmentary disorders (vitiligo, albinism, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, keloids), and infections spanning bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic causes, including tuberculosis, syphilis, HPV, dermatophyte and deep fungal disease, and infestations like scabies and lice. The course closes with cutaneous manifestations of HIV, showing how immunosuppression changes presentation across these categories. You'll compare clinical features, differentials, and treatments as they appear in darker skin, building pattern-recognition skills for a population historically underrepresented in dermatology education.