Recognising clinical signs and symptoms on black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) skin types

There is a growing body of literature emphasising the importance of medical schools addressing issues related to equality and diversity. This is crucial to ensure that future healthcare professionals are well-equipped to effectively care for the diverse population in the UK and overseas. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the fact that marginalised and specifically BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities often experience poorer health outcomes.

If we fail to integrate diversity into medical education, which involves decolonising the curriculum and helping students identify signs and symptoms in individuals with darker skin tones, it could lead to delayed diagnoses or misdiagnoses.0​

At the time of writing (April 2024), the NHS e-learning for health (e-LFH) still predominantly presents light-skinned models exclusively. For simplicity, light-skinned in this context refers to less than or equal to Fitzpatrick III.

This article aims to show common signs and symptoms for a variety of general medical conditions on a diverse range skin types in an effort to achieve equality in disease and disorder recognition.