A Case for Reframing ‘Skin of Color’ - Takeaways - MDSpire
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A Case for Reframing ‘Skin of Color’

The term that transformed dermatology is now blurring the very distinctions it was meant to sharpen.

  • By

  • Kerri Miller

  • March 20, 2026

  • 2 min

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  • 1

    The Fitzpatrick scale inadequately represents darker skin, as types V and VI were added based on ethnicity rather than biological measurement.

  • 2

    The term 'skin of color' has evolved to promote equity in education and research but can obscure important clinical differences.

  • 3

    'Skin of color' serves as both an equity framework and a clinical shorthand, which may not align with individualized dermatological care.

  • 4

    The authors propose a granular approach to 'skin of color' that includes pigment phenotype, ancestry, sociocultural context, and clinical risk modifiers.

  • 5

    Clinicians should specify which aspect of 'skin of color' is relevant in clinical or research contexts to enhance clarity and precision.

Original Source(s)

A Case for Reframing ‘Skin of Color’

  • by Kerri Miller

  • March 20, 2026

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