Career Insights From a Dermatologist Specializing in Skin of Color

Eliot F. Battle, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and pioneer in the advancement of lasers and energy-based devices, outlined his career in the field and advised physicians on best patient-care practices at the 2025 Skin of Color Update.

Battle began the panel session, “The Art of Treating Skin of Color with Lasers & Energy-Based Devices,” by expanding on his journey into dermatology. Starting medical school at the age of 34, he entered the field at a time when skin care treatments catered to fair skin. He described the landscape as “top-down,” heavy with its approach to treatment in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®—meaning treatments targeted the epidermis layer of the skin and not the dermal layer, which is where most people with skin of color tend to experience challenges.

At his practice, Cultura Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, based in Washington, DC, Battle said he treats nearly 85 patients a day; the majority—if not all—are people with skin of color. Skin color is dictated according to the Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale. The Fitzpatrick scale has 6 designated skin types, of which 4 to 6 are darker skin, which resembles the patients Battle treats at his practice.

“What determines skin color?” Battle asked during the panel discussion. “It's just not our amount of melanin, from our race or from our ethnicity, that determines skin color. Sun exposures, hormones, health, medications, stress, and environment—everything impacts how our skin reacts.”

Battle said the reason he is considered an expert in treating skin of color with lasers is that he treats patients conservatively, regardless of skin color. He believes that each individual should be treated accordingly, not based only on their skin color, but also on their DNA and external factors that may impact their skin.

“Every time you see a patient, don't assume, ‘I treated this skin color before; I can do this.’ Assume they're all different. Treat as conservatively as you can. Every patient is unique,” Battle said. “We don't know the DNA of our patient. That's the future of skin care; it is going to be DNA-based.”

What It Takes to Market Yourself as a Practicing Physician

“The number 1 way to be successful is to treat your patients well,” Battle said. “Number 2 is marketing and advertising.”

As CEO and cofounder of his practice, Battle revealed key insights into what it takes to run a successful practice. His 2 pillars for success include patient satisfaction and expert consultations. Patient referrals are the best advertisement a physician can get, Battle said. For patients to encourage others to seek your practice, they need to believe that you’re an expert at what you do, he said.

“Introduce yourself with kindness and compassion in your voice. Create a conversation that relates and connects to your patient and with the world we have right now,” Battle said. “They have to trust your recommendation. Patients need to believe in you and your company, to trust this recommendation.”

Furthermore, when it comes to skin care treatments, Battle emphasized the importance of being upfront with patients about when they should begin to see their expected results. This also includes teaching patients about the tools used, and in his case, lasers.

“Have realistic expectations; if not, then by the third treatment, [if] they haven't seen smooth skin, they're going to say, ‘I want my money back,’” Battle said. “So, it’s important to focus on education. Even my mission statement, on my office wall, says, “We teach; we don't preach.”

Another key point Battle made in building his reputation as a dermatologist and creating a patient-centered environment is by making patients feel welcomed. This strategy encompassed hiring staff with skin of color and inclusive décor to reflect the majority of his patient population.

“Sit in your waiting room, and if you're not a person of color, imagine you're a person of color,” Battle said. “Would you feel welcomed?”

Different Uses for Laser Therapy

Battle highlighted the utility of 42 lasers in his practice but emphasized the newest laser he acquired, which he says “revolutionized” skin-tightening. In his 24 years of practice, Battle said he’s only had 15 instances in which patients experienced any adverse effects due to the lasers.

“If you're the owner of the practice, be a master of every laser you've got,” Battle said. “Choose the right laser based on your patient's demographics and the procedures they want.”

As part of successfully treating patients with skin of color, Battle said he rarely follows the manufacturers' parameters of the lasers he uses. He said he uses them much more conservatively than the manufacturer's parameters advise because he uses them on more patients with skin of color than the trials the manufacturer used to set the parameters.

Battle emphasized that treating patients with darker skin tones requires careful selection of energy-based and laser devices to minimize risks such as burns, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. Long-pulsed and microsecond Nd:YAG lasers remain the safest and most effective options, while fractional nonablative lasers and radiofrequency microneedling can also be used conservatively for improving texture and reducing scars. Q-switched, picosecond, and new focal point technology lasers show promise but require advanced skill and cautious parameters. He emphasized the importance of using the lowest effective energy settings, performing test spots, and personalizing each treatment plan, as responses can vary even among patients with similar skin tones.

“Use the right laser, become an expert in both skin and color and technology, and choose only treatments with proven success,” Battle said, concluding his panel discussion. “We don't do anything that doesn't work. Do no harm and treat conservatively.”

References

1. Battle EF. The art of treating skin of color with lasers & energy-based devices. Presented at: Skin of Color Update; October 3-5, 2025; New York, NY.