Looking for a Black dermatologist to treat CCCA?

For Black women living with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) – a condition that almost exclusively affects us – it can be hard to find a dermatologist who can not only treat CCCA, but also respect and understand our hair and culture.

I've heard the stories about the culturally inappropriate things doctors say to us.

You should be washing your hair daily.

You need to avoid putting oil on your hair and your scalp.

And then there are the problematic-if-not-casually-racist remarks we hear.

A dermatologist – when describing CCCA to me – said, "There's a theory that CCCA is caused by chemical relaxers. Now it's a trend for Black women to wear their hair natural so some people have it who've never worn relaxers."

Wow. As if wearing my hair natural isn't my f***ing birthright.

Sometimes it's what they say. Sometimes it's how they say it.

It's a fact that only 3% of dermatologists in the U.S. are Black, so odds are some of us might not find one who's accessible. If you are looking to find one, this website can help you locate Board-certified Black dermatologists not just in the U.S., but around the world: https://www.blackdermdirectory.com/.

You can even search for Black derms with a specialization in hair loss.

Many thanks to Dr. Achiamah Osei-Tutu of New York for creating this website.

Wishing you grace on this journey,

Lisa

P.S. I appreciate you being here. If you found this newsletter helpful, please share it with others and leave me a comment. You can also visit my website to gain access to all my posts. Signup is free.

Disclaimer: I am a Black woman living with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia who shares thoughts, stories and ideas with other Black women navigating this condition for informational purposes only. I’m not a doctor or licensed or certified professional, therefore nothing in my posts – explicit, implicit, by implication, or in reference – is intended to constitute, or be a substitute or replacement for, licensed, professional, medical care. Always seek the advice of your dermatologist or other qualified provider with any questions you have regarding your health, CCCA, and treatments for CCCA, be they medical or otherwise, and before making any decisions about your health care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in my posts.