If you're a dark-skinned person who has ever had skin issues, you know the struggle is real. With only 47% of dermatologists properly trained to help dark skinned people, it's no wonder that we have such difficulty resolving dermatological skin conditions like razor bumps, skin cancer or keloids. Leading expert in the field of dermatology for skin of color, Dr. A. Geronimo Jones said, "Most dermatologists are not expertly trained in addressing issues with darker skin types. Simply put, more consideration has to be put in when treating darker skin.”

The new First Derm app is taking the initiative to address this issue with the creation of a platform for users to anonymously submit photos and descriptions of their skin concerns to board-certified dermatologists. Once assessed, users receive a reliable review of their condition and suggested a course of action. The app, which can be accessed at any time, is available in 7 languages and over 160 countries with over 200,000 users worldwide. 

Statistically, the 5-year melanoma survival is 74.1% for blacks compared to 92.9% for whites. While people of color have a lower risk of getting skin cancer, the survival rate is often lower because of late detection due to lack of dermatologists trained to identify skin cancer in darker skin. “We have seen from data over time and also requests from users that they would like an expert that really understands their skin genetics. Skin of color is an area that has not been given a lot of attention. We are a global company and we are here to help all people with any skin concern,” says Dr. Alexander Börve, CEO of First Derm.