In my previous article, "Hidden Dangers: Beauty Products, Black Women, and the Implications for Nursing Practice," I explored how environmental toxins in beauty products disproportionately impact Black women. Today, we are taking that inquiry a step further. We are not just identifying the problem; we are engineering the solution. By leveraging AI-driven molecular modeling alongside accurate medical illustration, we aim to prove that nursing science is capable of driving therapeutic innovation that leaves no woman behind.

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Background and Significance

The prevalence of fibrotic disorders in Black women represents a public health crisis that has been normalized for far too long. Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of Black women by age 50. CCCA is the most common form of scarring alopecia in Black women. Keloids are notoriously more prevalent and aggressive in pigmented skin. While these conditions appear clinically distinct, our research posits that they share a common underlying pathology: aberrant fibrotic and inflammatory processes.

The current standard of care fails to connect these dots. Because medical education and practice are siloed, a dermatology providers (MDs, NPs, and PAs) treating a keloid rarely asks about fibroids. This fragmentation leads to missed opportunities for early intervention and holistic care.

The Nurse-Led Solution: Nature Meets AI
Our research proposes a "translational framework." We are not waiting for traditional pharmaceutical companies to prioritize our patient population. Instead, we are using Artificial Intelligence to model these molecular pathways and identify "agri-derived bioactives", potent, natural compounds found in plants, that have the potential to disrupt fibrosis without the toxicity of synthetic drugs.

This work is led by a powerhouse interdisciplinary team:

• Thérèse Wilson-Rawlins (Lead Scientist & AI Lead, Jax Lab Naturals™) is modeling the molecules.
• Dr. Mariam Rabiu, DNP, and I are leading the clinical research to bridge the bench and the bedside.

The Visual Gap: Why We Need Ni-Ka Ford
However, the "gap" in care isn't just biological; it is visual. Research is only as good as its communication, and you cannot treat what you have not been trained to see. That is why our team includes Ni-Ka Ford, a Certified Medical Illustrator and the founder of Enlight Visuals.

During a recent interview on The Melanin Initiative Podcast, Ni-Ka shared a startling reality: "When I was doing derm illustrations, I couldn't believe how difficult it was to find reference photos for certain conditions on dark skin."

Think about that. The artists tasked with drawing our medical textbooks cannot find reference images for Black skin. This creates a dangerous cycle:

1. The Reference Gap: Artists cannot find reference photos.
2. The Education Gap: Textbooks only show conditions on white skin.
3. The Clinical Gap: Clinicians fail to recognize keloids, CCCA, or fibrotic changes on darker skin until the damage is severe.

Ni-Ka is not just "drawing pictures"; she is correcting the historical record. By creating accurate, clinically precise visual representations of these conditions on us, she is ensuring that the next generation of clinicians, and the AI models they use, are trained to see us.

This is a "for us, by us" approach. It is a fusion of the lab, the clinic, and the canvas, designed to build a new, holistic standard of care.

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Implications for Dermatology and Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners

This research fundamentally shifts the role of the Cosmetic and Dermatology Nurse Practitioner. We are often told that our scope is limited to the surface, to making things look better. But true advanced nursing practice requires us to understand the pathophysiology beneath the surface.

1. Systemic Thinking: When a patient presents with CCCA or recalcitrant keloids, it is your responsibility to widen the aperture. Recognize that the scarring on the outside may be a signal of fibrotic activity on the inside. By understanding the link between these comorbidities, you elevate your practice from service provider to clinical authority.

2. Visual Equity as Safety: You must acknowledge that "Visual Equity" is a patient safety issue. If you are training staff or educating patients, are you using materials that reflect the populations you serve? Engaging with this research means demanding better resources and ensuring your own diagnostic eye is trained on diverse presentations of disease.

This acceptance at the ACS, one of the world's largest scientific organizations, validates that Nursing is a Scientific Discipline. We do not just administer care; we investigate the molecular roots of disease. We build the datasets. We design the visual models. We define the future of therapeutics.

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Clinical Pearls for Patient Education

When you speak with your patients, move the conversation beyond the immediate aesthetic concern.

• Connect the Dots: If you are treating a woman for scarring hair loss, ask about her history with fibroids or keloids. Explain that these conditions often travel together because they share a similar "biological personality"—a tendency to over-heal and create scar tissue.

• Validate the Visual: Acknowledge that their condition might look different than what they see on Google Images. Explain that medical resources often lack diversity, but that you have the expertise to diagnose them correctly.

• Empower with Science: Let them know that this isn't just "bad luck." Share that nurse-led research is actively investigating natural, evidence-based solutions to disrupt these pathways using advanced technology.

• Manage Inflammation: Reassure them that while we wait for these novel therapeutics, managing inflammation is key. Whether through diet, stress reduction, or current medical therapies, the goal is to calm the body's inflammatory response to protect both their skin and their internal health.

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Closing Statement & Call to Action

We are honored to present this work at the American Chemical Society Spring 2026 National Meeting in Atlanta in March 2026. With a team that includes translational scientists, clinical experts, and a certified medical illustrator like Ni-Ka Ford, we are ensuring that the solution is as holistic as the problem.

This level of clinical rigor, where we don't just treat the skin, but investigate the science, is the standard we set inside the Alliance of Cosmetic Nurse Practitioners™.

We are building a "for us, by us" standard of care that ensures no woman, no diagnosis, and no nurse is left behind.

If you are ready to move beyond generic training and join a community that prioritizes Evidence-Based Practice and Skin of Color, you belong in this room.

The doors to the Alliance close this Wednesday, December 24 at midnight.

BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE HERE. 

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~A heartfelt thank you to Eunice Coffie-Obeng, (a cosmetic chemist), for sparking my curiosity when she asked, "Have you ever thought about the relationship between keloids and fibroids?", last year (2024) when I attended her inaugural Nuekie Beauty Durbar: A Wellness and Beauty event in Hampton, Virginia. In nursing, we are forever reminded to maintain a spirit of curiosity. May you be inspired to ask more questions.

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About the Author

Dr. Kimberly Madison, DNP, GPCNP-BC, WCC, is a Board-Certified, Doctorally-prepared Nurse Practitioner, educator, and author dedicated to advancing dermatology nursing education and research with an emphasis on skin of color. As the founder of Mahogany Dermatology Nursing | Education | Research™ and the Alliance of Cosmetic Nurse Practitioners™, she expands access to dermatology research, business acumen, and innovation while also leading professional groups and mentoring clinicians. Through her engaging and informative social media content and peer-reviewed research, Dr. Madison empowers nurses and healthcare professionals to excel in dermatology and improve patient care.

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