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The Skin of Colour Training Day 2025
Royal College Of Physicians London | 22nd to 24th January 2025
The Skin of Colour Training UK (SOCTUK) 2025 Conference was the first in-person Skin of Colour Training event and marked a significant milestone in advancing dermatological education and research for skin of colour. Held at the historic Royal College of Physicians in London, this three-day event, from 22nd to 24th January 2025, brought together dermatologists, researchers, and healthcare professionals to address health disparities and promote excellence in treating skin conditions in multi-ethnic populations.
With the theme of "Getting it Right the First Time," the conference aimed to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to bridge gaps in dermatological care. The goal was to reduce diagnostic delays, improve patient outcomes, and advocate for greater inclusivity in dermatology education.
A special thank you to Sanofi, Eucerin, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, and Lilly for their invaluable support of our teaching initiatives.
SOCTUK Pre-Meeting
January 22nd 2025
The event began on 22nd January with an engaging pre-meeting session tailored for professionals outside the healthcare sector, such as hairdressers and aestheticians, focusing on hair and aesthetics. During this session, experts shared insights on managing skin conditions in darker skin tones, covering key topics such as skin and hair anatomy, recognising alopecia in non-medical settings, and cultural considerations in aesthetic practice.
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The pre-meeting kicked off with a spirited welcome from SOCTUK co-founder Dr. Marisa Taylor (Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust). Following this, SOCTUK co-founder Dr. Dami Jagun (East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) provided an excellent overview of skin and hair anatomy, catering to the diverse audience.
Dr. Leila Asfour (Chelsea and Westminster Hospital) then delivered an insightful presentation on the critical role of allied professionals, such as hairdressers, in the early detection of alopecia. Her talk offered practical advice on recognising warning signs and knowing when to refer clients to dermatologists for timely care. The session continued with Enitan Agidee’s “Top Hair Care Tips,” featuring actionable advice for both patients and dermatologists.
The latter half of the afternoon shifted focus to aesthetic treatments tailored to different ethnic backgrounds. A panel of experts, including Dr. Nicole Chiang (Lumiere Clinic), Dr. Amiee Vyas (Doctor Amiee Facial Aesthetics & Skin), and Dr. Ifeoma Ejikeme (Adonia Medical Clinic), presented perspectives from East Asian, South Asian, and African communities, respectively. The panel emphasised the importance of cultural sensitivity in aesthetic dermatology, especially in the application of injectables, skin-lightening treatments, and lasers.
The final segment of the pre-meeting delved into dermocosmetics. Dr. Christina Psomadakis (University Hospitals Sussex) gave a fascinating talk on evidence based cosmeceutical ingredients and discussed the dark historical origins of retinoids, a cornerstone in anti-aging skincare. Dr. Emma Amoafo-Mensah (Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust) followed with a compelling discussion on the intersections of racism, colourism, and the harmful consequences of illegal skin bleaching.
SOCTUK Main Conference
January 23rd - 24th 2025
On 23rd January, the main conference officially opened with a warm welcome from Dr. Marisa Taylor, SOCTUK’s CEO and co-founder. The two days featured several plenary lectures, interactive workshops, poster presentations, and engaging discussions. With 272 delegates in attendance, the sessions underscored SOCTUK’s mission to foster inclusivity and innovation in dermatological practice.
The morning session on the first day focused on the foundational aspects of dermatology in skin of colour. Prof. Faisal Ali (Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust) delivered a compelling lecture on hyperpigmentation. His talk explored therapeutic approaches for pigmentation disorders, emphasising the importance of tailoring treatments to individual skin types. Dr. Daniel Creamer (King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) highlighted the dermatological manifestations of systemic diseases in skin of colour. His presentation emphasised the critical need for vigilance and comprehensive care to avoid misdiagnosis. Prof. Chris Griffiths (University of Manchester and King’s College London) and Prof. Carsten Flohr (King’s College London) shared their expertise on psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, respectively, in patients with skin of colour, highlighting variations in presentation and response to treatment.
On both days, between the afternoon and morning talks, interactive workshops provided attendees with invaluable practical experience. The EASI and PASI workshops trained participants to accurately assess the severity of eczema and psoriasis in patients with skin of colour using these validated scoring systems. Meanwhile, the hyperpigmentation workshop explored diagnostic techniques of facial and body pigmentation, in-depth assessment of melasma including severity scoring (mMASI) and dermoscopy, treatment pathways, including oral tranexamic acid, laser therapy and chemical peels.
The afternoon session on the first day focused on infectious diseases, an area of relevance in dermatological practice for diverse populations. Dr. Sidra Khan (Manchester University NHS Foundation) presented on Infectious Diseases in Migrant Populations, highlighting topical issues such as dermatophyte resistance and the emergence of infectious skin diseases in southern Europe due to climate change. Prof. Colm O'Mahony (Countess of Chester Hospital Trust) followed with an engaging and insightful talk on how sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, can present in dermatology, particularly in darker skin tones. The final talk of the first day was by Dr. Mary Sommerlad (Homerton Healthcare Foundation Trust), who shed light on the burden of infectious diseases in children with skin of colour, offering practical insights into managing these conditions, while also considering the cultural factors that may need to be addressed in skin of colour communities.
The day concluded with a gala dinner, where many delegates attended in traditional attire, which was a welcomed change from usual black-tie event and celebrated the cultural diversity within the UK’s dermatology workforce. It offered an opportunity for attendees to connect, reflect on the day's discussions, and enjoy a lively celebration together. The event emphasised the organising committee’s commitment to fostering a sense of community and collaboration among dermatology professionals.
After a late night for many delegates, the final day of the conference began early, with oral presentations from abstract submissions. The winning oral presentation, “Skin Diseases in Displaced Individuals,” as voted by the audience, was delivered by Dr. Nabiah Malik (Hillingdon Hospitals Foundation Trust), highlighting the significant burden of skin conditions among displaced populations. Dr. Farishta Khan (Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals) won the poster presentation prize with her poster on the role of demarcation lines in pregnancy, titled “Understanding Pregnancy’s Pigmentation Puzzle.”
Dr. Crystal Aguh (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine) kicked off the final day of plenary talks with back-to-back sessions on male and female scalp disorders. She discussed the complexities of hair and scalp health in textured hair, covering conditions such as androgenetic alopecia and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. Dr. Aguh emphasised the importance of understanding the unique needs of textured hair and provided practical insights on effective management strategies, including tips on hairstyling to prevent damage. Her talk served as a comprehensive guide for dermatologists treating hair disorders in ethnic populations.
Next up was Dr. Andrew Birnie (East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), who delivered an engaging lecture on photoprotection strategies for skin of colour, focusing on sunscreen’s role in managing hyperpigmentation, rather than from a skin cancer perspective. He stressed the importance of sunscreen formulations suited to darker skin tones. The morning session concluded with Dr. Dhruv Laheru (Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust) discussing nail and acral melanoma, providing insights into early detection and management strategies for patients with skin of colour.
After further workshops, the final session of the conference turned to cosmetic dermatology, an increasingly relevant area of dermatological practice. Dr. Rajani Nalluri (Varna Pigmentation) delivered an in-depth talk on safely navigating cosmetic procedures in skin of colour. She shared evidence-based protocols and best practices to minimise complications, with a focus on tailored approaches in treatments like injectables, chemical peels, and laser therapies. Professor Hassan Galadari (United Arab Emirates University) delivered the final talk of the conference via video link from Dubai, focusing on periorbital hyperpigmentation. He discussed its causes, including genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors, and emphasised the need for accurate diagnosis to differentiate between various types of dark circles.
The SOCTUK 2025 Conference was a resounding success, setting the standard for inclusive dermatological education and practice. By fostering collaboration and championing equity, the event demonstrated that achieving excellence in dermatological care for skin of colour is not only possible but imperative. The conference organisers, speakers, and sponsors are to be commended for their dedication to reducing health disparities and advancing the field of dermatology.
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