Skin of color representation in cosmetic clinical trials: A literature review

Abstract

Despite cosmetic procedures being on the rise in the US in all demographics, cosmetic procedures remain heavily skewed towards non-skin of color patients. Cosmetic clinical trials in the United States must be representative of the everincreasing diversity of the US population. We sought to analyze published cosmetic randomized controlled trials, both industry-sponsored and investigatorinitiated, to characterize and assess representation of skin of color participants over the past three decades. Our study shows that industry sponsorship correlates with poor study participant ethnic/racial diversity in aesthetic randomized controlled trials, and should serve as a call to action for industries to increase the inclusion of skin of color participants in their studies.

Diversity trends in the leadership of the American Society for Laser Medicine And Surgery, 1996–2021

“…As a majority of laser and energy‐based devices are for skin usage, thus it is especially important to have representation from different race and ethnicities given the increasing diverse demographics of the patient population and need to reduce existing health disparities. Recent studies have demonstrated that cosmetic procedures are heavily geared toward non‐skin of color patients 6 and the poor study participant ethnic/racial diversity in aesthetic trials 7 …”

Skin of Color Representation in Laser Therapy-Based Clinical Trials

“…Previous studies have indirectly addressed the degree of laser training in the dermatology residency, but current information regarding safety education, frequency of procedures, industry relations, and laser career plans of dermatology residents is incomplete. [1][2][3][4] This study aimed to characterize cosmetic laser education and assess perceived competency and future practice plans among dermatology residents.…”

“…There have been extraordinary advancements in the use of laser treatments for dermatologic conditions. 1,2 However, inclusion of participants with skin of color (SOC) in laser-based clinical trials is largely understudied. 2 When included, SOC is often defined through self-reported measures of race and/or ethnicity that have often been shown to be nonspecific and inacurrate.…”

“…1,2 However, inclusion of participants with skin of color (SOC) in laser-based clinical trials is largely understudied. 2 When included, SOC is often defined through self-reported measures of race and/or ethnicity that have often been shown to be nonspecific and inacurrate. 3 Fitzpatrick skin type (FST), meanwhile, is an objective measure of how individuals respond to sunlight and has become an essential measure in the consideration of laser therapy.…”

Skin of Color Representation in Standardized Grading Scales and Clinical Studies in Cosmetic Dermatology

“…1 Within cosmetic dermatology, these disparities have been documented in both clinical trials and advertisements. 2,3 Cosmetic grading scales serve as the objective foundational framework for critically assessing treatment results. Given the racial and ethnic differences in skin characteristics, it is important to have appropriate representation in cosmetic grading scales to perform high quality, inclusive, and generalizable research.…”