How we verify every listing

1. We read the practice's own website

We start from dermatology practices on Google Maps in each city, then read each practice's home page and its about, team, services and conditions pages. A practice is listed when its site documents care for Black skin and hair:

• at least two specific signals, such as skin of color, CCCA (central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia), traction alopecia, textured hair, melanin-rich or darker skin tones, razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae), dermatosis papulosa nigra, or membership in the Skin of Color Society; or
• one specific signal plus treatment of keloids, hyperpigmentation or melasma.

Melasma or hyperpigmentation alone isn't enough, because nearly every dermatologist lists them. Every profile quotes the words we found and links to the page they came from.

2. We match licensed providers in the NPI registry

Every US healthcare provider who bills insurance has a National Provider Identifier (NPI) in a public registry run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. We match the dermatology providers registered at each practice's street address or phone number and show their credential, specialty, NPI and state license number. So far that's 413 providers across 225 practices.

The registry doesn't say who works on which day, and addresses can be out of date, so always confirm who you'll see when you book.

3. We never guess anyone's race

Many patients want a Black dermatologist, and many Black dermatologists want to be found. But a name or a photo doesn't tell you someone's race, and guessing would be wrong and harmful. So a profile says "Black-owned" or "Black dermatologist" only when:

• the practice says so itself on its website (a person on our team reads the quote before it appears), or
• the practice confirms it to us directly.

Medical school, residency or association membership is never treated as a sign of race.

What we don't check

• Quality of care. Documenting a condition shows a practice treats it, not how well.
• Board certification. We show license records, not board status; you can confirm board certification with the American Board of Dermatology.
• Insurance and availability. Ask the practice and your insurer.

Keeping it current

We re-read websites and the NPI registry regularly; each profile shows when it was last checked. Practices can correct or update their listing for free at any time.