South African Dermatology Just Joined a Global Push to Fix Skin-of-Colour Care
By Michael C. · Written and reviewed by Michael C.
Skin Of Colour · Published 2026-09-03 · 9 min read · 1936 words · Updated 2026-09-08
The Skin of Color Society's new Global Council includes South Africa as a founding member, aiming to close a real research gap in skin-of-colour dermatology.
Key takeaways
- The Skin of Color Society launched a Global Council on 1 September 2026, uniting 22 dermatology organisations worldwide.
- The Dermatological Society of South Africa is a founding member, alongside bodies from Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Madagascar and Tanzania.
- Skincare research has historically skewed toward lighter skin types, leaving real gaps in treatment guidance for melanin-rich skin.
- The visible-cast sunscreen problem is a well-documented, everyday example of this research gap in South Africa.
- South Africa's genuinely diverse population, high UV exposure and existing skin-of-colour researchers make it a strong site for this work.
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Source: Skin of Color Society (https://skinofcolorsociety.org/)
Cover image: Ato Aikins — credit