Hair at the intersection of dermatology and anthropology: A conversation on race and relationships

Less than 3% of pediatric dermatologists identify as Black, meaning that the vast majority of Black dermatology patients in the United States are being treated by dermatologists who do not share personal hair management experience and cultural symbolism around tightly coiled hair. We cannot, and should not, wait for racial concordance so that Black physicians treat all Black patients. A powerful alternative solution is listening to and learning from others' experience relating to the importance of hair in molding one's identity and emerging autonomy. Representing both clinical and anthropologic lenses and stemming from a conversation between the authors, this article reflects this approach and is intended to stimulate conversation so that in the absence of shared experiences, all patients with tightly coiled hair have access to culturally humble, effective, and ethical care.