Dermatology Journals Need More Color: A Study Finds Lack of Skin of Color Representation

Overview

Paper Summary › Explain Like I'm Five › Conflicts of Interest › Identified Limitations › Rating Explanation › Good to know › Topic Hierarchy › File Information ›

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title

The study found that the average percentage of articles relevant to skin of color (SoC) across 52 dermatology journals is quite low (16.8%), with significant variation between journals. Higher-ranked journals tend to publish fewer SoC-related articles. The study proposes criteria for assessing SoC content and recommends that journals aim for at least 16.8% SoC-relevant articles per issue to promote equitable dermatological care.

Explain Like I'm Five

Scientists found that magazines for skin doctors don't show much about darker skin. They think these magazines should share more about all kinds of skin so everyone can get the best care.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

Dr. Jenny E. Murase has participated in advisory boards for several pharmaceutical companies, given talks sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, and provided consulting services for a medical information website.

Identified Limitations

Limited identification of relevant articles

The study relies on keyword analysis and image availability to identify relevant articles, which may not capture all relevant research, particularly if race/ethnicity information is not explicitly stated or if images are not accessible. This could lead to an underestimation of SoC representation in some journals.

Over-reliance on case reports

Case reports featuring patients with SoC significantly influenced the overall percentage of publications on SoC for some journals. This may overestimate the actual representation of SoC-focused research if race/ethnicity was not the primary focus of the case report.

Potential for perpetuating race-based medicine

The study acknowledges that including race/ethnicity in clinical patient presentations is becoming discouraged. Their use of Fitzpatrick skin type as a proxy may not accurately reflect the diversity of skin colors and may perpetuate race-based medicine.

Lack of consideration for potential biases

The study does not account for potential biases in journal selection, publication processes, or author demographics. This may affect the generalizability of the findings to the broader dermatological literature.

Rating Explanation

The study addresses an important topic and provides valuable data on the representation of skin of color in dermatological literature. However, the methodology has some limitations that may affect the accuracy and generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the disclosed conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies may introduce potential bias.

Good to know

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Topic Hierarchy

Domain: Health Sciences

Field: Medicine

Subfield: Dermatology

File Information

Original Title: Assessment of skin of color and diversity and inclusion content of dermatologic published literature: An analysis and call to action

Uploaded: July 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM

Privacy: Public