Dermatologists specializing in black skin in Montreal
Looking for a dermatologist specializing in black skin in Montreal? It's hard enough to find a dermatologist, so imagine finding one who specializes in black skin!
It's like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Going from dermatologist to dermatologist, receiving different diagnoses - this is the reality for many black-skinned people.
In this article, we'll cover the following points:
The problem lies in the training given to dermatologists. There is a lack of diversity in the images presented in medical textbooks.
Very few illustrations depict black skin. And this reality is not unique to Canada.
It's as if we're assuming that all the patients of these future doctors will be white-skinned, or that skin color isn't important in dermatological care.
Yet dermatological diseases do not present in the same way on Caucasian skin as on black skin.
According to several experts , this lack of diversity in the images is one of the reasons why skin diseases are underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed in people of color.
Not having been trained in the specificities of dark skin, when dermatologists receive black-skinned patients in their clinics, they have difficulty recognizing the pathology they are suffering from.
The absence of images of black skin in books therefore has a direct impact on the care of people with black skin.
IIt's not uncommon to meet someone who has been struggling for years with problems such as hyperpigmentation or more serious pathologies, despite numerous dermatological consultations..
In an article on medical care for dark-skinned people , dermatologists say that lack of images is one reason why many conditions, including Lyme disease, spider bites and cancers, can be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed in dark-skinned patients.
After much research, we've identified a few dermatology clinics with experience with black skin.
Need I say that the list is really short?
It's up to you to contact them to find out if they're accepting new patients.
Dr Marie-Alix Francoeur
4305 rue d’Amiens, Montreal, QC, H1H 2G6
514-328-9993
Dr Balbul Alfred
5492, Chemin Queen-Mary, Montreal, QC, H3X1V6
514-282-8815
Dr. Jean-François Tremblay
MédIME, Institute of Aesthetic Medicine
6100 Avenue du Boisé #114, Montreal, QC, H3S 2W1
514-739-7444
This clinic offers both medical and aesthetic dermatology services.
Dr Linda Ptito (Aesthetic Dermatology)
90, Notre Dame West, #304
Montreal, QC H3C 1K1
info@drlindaptito.com
514-274-8001
If you know of other dermatological clinics that specialize in black skin, please let us know so we can improve this list.
To make your first appointment with a dermatologist in Quebec, you must first consult your family doctor. If he or she deems that you need to be seen by a dermatologist, he or she will give you a referral to see one.
Some clinics will forward the referral for you, others will give it to you so that you can send it to the dermatology clinic yourself.
Waiting times vary according to the urgency of your situation.
Can I consult a dermatologist without a referral?
For a first dermatology consultation in Quebec, you need a referral from your family doctor.
Does RAMQ cover the dermatologist?
If it is a medical consultation (and not aesthetic), the service is free and covered by RAMQ.
How much does a visit to the dermatologist cost?
The visit to the dermatologist is free if it is a medical consultation. But, if you consult a private clinic or for aesthetic reasons, you will have to pay an amount which varies from one clinic to another, and depending on the service.
Finding a dermatologist specializing in black skin in Montreal can be challenging. It's time for medical training to take into account the diversity of the population, to ensure equitable access to health care.
