It's TED Talks Daily. I'm Elise Hugh. Skin disease appears differently in all skin tones,

making it easier to see some things and harder to see others depending on your shade. But many dermatologists

are uncomfortable treating patients of color because they haven't been trained to see the full

spectrum of skin disease. In her talk at Ted Monterey in 2021, Dr. Genesey Lester shares what

this disparity means and why something has to be done about it.

The skin is the human body's largest organ and one of the most powerful predictors of our health.

A hallmark feature of Lyme disease is erythema migrants. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness present in over 80 countries and estimated to affect 476,000 people in the United States each year. Dermatologists like me are

doctors of the skin trained to diagnose and treat skin disease. And this is how we're trained

to see erythema migrains as a bullseye-shaped rash that ranges from red to pink.

But this is not at all what it looks like in dark skin.

There are hues of violet, of magenta, and even dark brown.

If we were to rely only on dermatology textbooks to teach us how to identify skin disease,

we would frequently misdiagnose it in patients of color.

And this is a huge problem because Lyme disease needs to be treated.

Less untreated, Lyme disease has significant health ramifications, including arthritis,

and even nerve damage.

And what's more is we've seen an increase in the incidence of Lyme disease,

a phenomenon attributed in part to climate change. As we continue to see and experience the effects of climate change, we may see more people infected with Lyme disease, making it even more important

that we're able to accurately diagnose it.

Now, the story of erythema migrains is emblematic of a larger issue.

In the United States, 47% of graduating dermatology residents report feeling uncomfortable diagnosing skin disease in patients with dark skin.

47%. I just want that to sink in for a second.

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