SOCS encourages our membership to participate in achieving our mission and purpose through committee involvement.
Established in 2004 by Dr. Susan C. Taylor, the Skin of Color Society (SOCS) is the global leader in skin of color dermatology, promoting awareness of and excellence within the field, through research, education, mentorship, and advocacy.
SOCS is committed to the education of health care providers and the general public in dermatologic health issues related to skin of color.
Individuals with skin of color have diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and include those of the following ancestries: African, Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Native Indian, Pacific Islander, as well as individuals with mixed races and/or ethnicities.
SOCS encourages our membership to participate in achieving our mission and purpose through committee involvement.
To promote awareness of and excellence within skin of color dermatology through research, education, mentorship and advocacy. We are committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in the field of dermatology to advance patient care.
Analysis of the population of the United States reveals that there will be a dramatic shift in the country’s demographics in the 21st century. The United States is rapidly becoming a country in which the majority of citizens have pigmented skin, which is also referred to as skin of color.
SOCS leadership is comproised of the current Officers, The Skin of Color Society Board of Directors, and its Founding Members.
In late 2020, the Skin of Color Society (SOCS) embarked on an exciting journey to conduct a comprehensive strategic planning process, involving SOCS leaders and staff, led by Tecker International, a management consulting firm. In Q1 2022, we reached finalization of our Strategic Plan, which is summarized in the following overview.
As we welcome 2024 and begin our year-long celebration of our 20th Anniversary milestone, we reflect on the remarkable accomplishments of 2023 with gratitude and pride. Thanks to the individual and collective efforts of many SOCS leaders, members, supporters and collaborators, the Skin of Color Society experienced a year of exceptional progress in support of our mission to change the landscape for people of color through research, education, mentorship and advocacy...
SOCS Mission: To promote awareness of and excellence within skin of color dermatology through research, education, mentorship and advocacy. We are committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in the field of dermatology to advance patient care.
MENTORSHIP: We value mentorship as a leadership development tool to foster a diverse workforce at all levels, developing and empowering future leaders in the field.
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We are thrilled to introduce a groundbreaking initiative led by SOCS President Victoria Barbosa, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAD, known as the SOCS Center for Leadership (CFL). The Center’s mission is to develop leaders who will drive the dermatology field forward with innovation, inclusivity, and excellence.
The innovative curriculum will include live and on-demand online programming, as well as a more structured cohort experience that blends webinars and online community with an immersive, in-person leadership development program that will be tailored to individual needs, interests and aspirations.
The SOCS Mentorship Program is a comprehensive program that connects young physicians and medical students with an approved skin of color expert from SOCS. The Mentorship Program is now open to medical students. Residents can serve as both a mentor (to medical students) AND as a mentee (matched with a practicing dermatologist).
Application Closed
The SOCS Observership Grant awards up to $2,000 USD grants to dermatology residents, medical students (2nd-4th year), and junior faculty to enable study with a SOCS mentor identified by the applicant. Grants are intended for travel, room and board as needed to establish and facilitate the mentoring relationship.
Application Closed
The Skin of Color Society, in conjunction with the NMA Dermatology Section, is proud to present the Diversity in Clinical Research (DiCR) Mentorship Program. This mentorship program is intended to:
Taylor, Susan C. and Elbuluk, Nada M., Taylor & Elbuluk's Atlas and Synopsis for Skin of Color (2023) | McGraw-Hill/Medical.
Eleryan, Misty, Friedman, Adam (2023). The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas Digital Edition | Sanovaworks.
Donkor, Claudia, Aryee-Boi, Je
Mukwende M, Tamonv P, Turner M (2020). Mind the Gap: a handbook of clinical signs on black and brown skin. London: St Georges, University of London. https://www.blackandbrownskin.co.uk/mindthegap
Lenzy Y (2018). Getting to the Root Book: A Dermatologist and Cosmetologist's Guide to Understanding HAIR! Massachusetts: Kingdom Root Publishing.
McMichael A, Hordinsky M (2018). Hair and Scalp Disorders: Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Treatments, Second Edition / Edition 2. Florida: Taylor & Francis.
Aguh C, Okoye G (2016). Fundamentals of Ethnic Hair. New York: Springer.
Love PB, Kundu RV (2016). Clinical Cases in Skin of Color: Medical, Oncological and Hair Disorders, and Cosmetic Dermatology (Clinical Cases in Dermatology). New York: Springer.
Kelly AP, Taylor SC, Lim HC, Serrano AMA (2015). Taylor and Kelly’s Dermatology for Skin of Color, 2nd edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
Love PB, Kundu RV. (2015) Clinical Cases in Skin of Color: Adnexal, Inflammation, Infections, and Pigmentary Disorders (Clinical Cases in Dermatology). New York: Springer.
Silverberg N, Durán-McKinster C, Kwang Tay Y (2015). Pediatric Skin of Color. New York: Springer.
Alexis A, Barbosa VH (2014). Skin of Color: A Practical Guide to Dermatologic Diagnosis and Treatment. New York: Springer.
Jablonski NG (2014). Living Color: The Biological and Social Meaning of Skin Color, Reprint edition. California: University of California Press.
Jackson-Richards D, Pandya AG (2014) Dermatology Atlas for Skin of Color. New York: Springer.
Khumalo NP, Thiers BH (2014). African Skin and Hair Disorders, An Issue of Dermatologic Clinics. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Dadzie OE, Petit A, Alexis AF (2013). Ethnic Dermatology: Principles and Practice. New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell.
Schaller KF (2013). Colour Atlas of Tropical Dermatology and Venerology. New York: Springer.
Kinai M (2012). Dark Skin Dermatology Color Atlas: Clinical Dermatology. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Lugo-Somolinos A, McKinley-Grant L, Goldsmith LA et al. (2011). VisualDx: Essential Dermatology in Pigmented Skin. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Tay YK, Chan YC (2011). Textbook Of Laser And Light Dermatology In The Asian Skin. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing.
Taylor SC, Badreshia-Bansal S, Callender VD, Gathers RC, Rodriguez DA (2011). Treatments for Skin of Color. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Alam M, Bhatia AC, Kundu RV, Yoo SS, Chan HHL (2009). Cosmetic Dermatology for Skin of Color. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
Carniol PJ, Monheit GD (2009). Aesthetic Rejuvenation Challenges and Solutions: A World Perspective (Series in Cosmetic and Laser Therapy). Florida: CRC Press.
Kelly AP, Taylor SC (2009). Dermatology for skin of color. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
Archer CB (2008). Ethnic Dermatology: Clinical Problems and Skin Pigmentation, 2nd edition. Florida: CRC Press.
Berardesca E, Leveque JL, Maibach HI (2006). Ethnic Skin and Hair (Dermatology: Clinical & Basic Science). Florida: CRC Press.
Connolly C, Bikowski J (2006). Dermatological Atlas of Black Skin. Florida: Merit Publishing International.
Grimes PE (2006). Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery for Darker Skin Types. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Halder RM (2005). Dermatology and Dermatological Therapy of Pigmented Skins. Florida: CRC Press.
Leok GC, Hon CS, Ket SN (2004). The Asian Skin: A Reference Color Atlas of Dermatology. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing.
Leppard B (2002). An Atlas of African Dermatology. Buckinghamshire: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd.
Johnson BL, Moy RL (1998). Ethnic Skin: Medical and Surgical. Missouri: Mosby.
Archer CB, Robertson SJ (1995). Black and White Skin Diseases: An Atlas and Text. New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell.
Montagna W, Prota G, Kennedy JA (1993). Black Skin: Structure and Function. Massachusetts: Academic Press Inc.
Basset A, Liautaud B, Ndiaye B, Basset A, Pembroke A (1986). Dermatology of Black Skin. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Laudie T (1983). Dermatological Disorders in Black Children and Adolescents. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Ltd.
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Join clinical experts, thought leaders, and advocates for a collaborative discussion on the issues of health disparities, structural racism, and medicine as we examine specific dermatologic diseases in a series of four free and open educational webinars.
Register now for one event or all four!
Did you know that the membership of the Skin of Color Society hails from 41 states in the US and 32 countries around the world? Since the organization was founded in 2004 by Dr. Susan C. Taylor, the Society has been growing steadily on a global scale, now with nearly 800 members representing different membership categories, including:
It is important to note, as we are occasionally asked about this: it is not necessary to be an individual with skin of color in order to be a member of the Skin of Color Society! As an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in skin of color dermatology in service to patients of color, the Society welcomes all races and ethnicities of qualified professionals in the eligible categories outlined above who have a special interest and/or training in this field.
We are proud of the diversity of our professional membership, which represents a cross-section of the specialty—spanning academia, private practice in all aspects of the field, including medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology, as well as scientific and clinical research.
As our membership around the world continues to grow, we greatly value learning about all of our members and staying connected with one another—particularly in this new era of distancing imposed by the pandemic. To this end, we invite our SOCS members to introduce yourselves to our membership by answering a few short questions, which we can share on our social media platforms through a SOCS Member Spotlight. If you would like to participate in a social media feature, please contact
We look forward to hearing from you!