10 Drugs That Affect Darker Skin Differently—And Why It Matters

Clinical trials are crucial for medical advancement, as they help determine whether a new treatment, device, or procedure works and is safe for the general population. However, people of color are often underrepresented in many drug trials.  “For decades, drugs have been largely tested on white, non-Hispanic men,” says Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology. “There’s evidence that women and patients of color respond quite differently to medication. Failure to test drugs on a diverse patient population can lead to many issues, including a lack of accessibility to effective medical intervention, compounded health disparities between patient populations, and a lack of trust in the medical community.” A research review published in Human Genomics revealed that darker skin tones can affect certain medications’ safety and effectiveness, indicating a need for better representation of people of color in clinical drug trials. The review, led by researchers Simon Groen, PhD, and Sophie Zaaijer, found that melanin—the natural substance that produces hair, eye, and skin pigmentation—can interact with some medications, which could alter the medication’s effect on the body. There are two types of melanin: pheomelanin and eumelanin. Eumelanin has been found to play a larger role in drug...