Abstract
As American dermatology skyrockets in popularity, nationwide access to certain
marginalized communities is growing at a much slower rate, warranting a need for cheaper,
closer, and more diverse offices. The technical portion of the research concerns the
implementation of large-scale microbial fermentation of hyaluronic acid using a bacterium called
Bacillus subtilis. Compared to current techniques, this process introduces a cruelty-free,
sustainable, and cheaper alternative, which can be more easily accessible to skincare consumers.
Similarly, the STS research centers around creating solutions to increase accessibility of
dermatology care to individuals in the USA who may have trouble getting aid due to their
financial status, location, or race. Furthermore, systemic failures, such as shortages in the
workforce, lack of funding, and low diversity, are also large determinants of the care being
received, requiring additional research concerning these factors and how they interact with
clients on an individual scale. Both topics, while different in their scope, can provide a valuable
viewpoint when combined due to how they work together. Taking both into consideration allows
both a producer and consumer perspective on skincare access, showing what products may be
important, what groups may benefit from it, and how the two can work together to obtain a safer
public environment.
Operating the start-to-finish production process of hyaluronic acid provides a unique
context for the skincare business. Rather than only focusing on the economic viability of the
product once it reaches the shelves, having a hand in each part of the design gives one
knowledge on how much of certain chemicals are needed, where tanks and pumps should be
placed in the process, the size of the plant, and the overall profitability of the system. Alongside
this, making sure to maintain the customer base’s needs in mind is a top priority. Because
skincare is pivoting to more sustainable and cheaper products, this is the focus of the company.
Increasing the customer base by creating a product that caters to more diverse groups of people is
one step towards accessibility that the capstone project focuses on. This is done by using a
GRAS, or generally recognized as safe, bacteria with multiple purification methods used in the
downstream portion of the process, as well as keeping a low final price point of the product.
The capstone project concludes with the successful completion of a microbial hyaluronic
acid product. Economic analysis of the plant shows viability and an increasing trend in profit
growth over a 20-year span, which is also boosted by the growing skincare market. The
hyaluronic acid will be sold to skincare companies as a dried powder that will then be mixed into
products before being put onto the shelves.
The STS research for the project was used to determine how marginalized groups in
society are affected by a lack of skincare accessibility. Likewise, systemic factors such as low
acceptance of Medicaid, little representation in the office, and workforce shortages are analyzed
to evaluate their impact on the marginalized groups. The specific groups of individuals that are
included in this study are those with low income, living in rural areas, or having dark skin.
Research has shown that dermatology offices are often clustered in urban communities, which
makes it difficult for rural Americans to travel to them or receive timely care. Likewise, having
low income often means the individual does not have insurance, which significantly raises the
price of any health appointment. Low representation of dark skin in the dermatology field also
has negative side effects, such as giving improper diagnoses or raising the barrier for entry for
individuals with similar ethnic or racial backgrounds who want to enter the field. Literature
review was used to gather the data and to facilitate analysis of the subject matter due to the large
number of people being studied in each group, as well as the issue being seen in all of America,
rather than being localized to one area.
Research data has shown that both the number of dark-skinned clients and dark-skinned
doctors in dermatology offices is low. Alongside this, people who live in rural communities are
often seen with a lower household income. Connecting the discriminated against groups provides
a better context for how they affect each other and which solutions may be proposed. Alongside
this, the low diversity in dermatology offices is also likely caused by the shortages seen in the
workforce, while low-income individuals are usually unable to afford insurance. A possible
solution to decreasing homogeneity in the office is by lowering the barrier to entry for young
doctors, as well as by increasing education opportunities surrounding the topic. This would also
aid with the general shortage of dermatologists in the workforce, which may enable more to
move closer to or into rural areas to service those communities. If doctors are unable to make the
move into rural areas, telehealth has become an increasingly popular option, but may still have
difficulty reaching all clients due to the need for a good wifi connection and camera. Increasing
the acceptance of Medicaid in the medical office may also encourage the attendance of
low-income clients to appointments. Overall, while the issues plaguing the dermatology system
and skincare industry are still at large, several solutions are possible to mitigate them. Telehealth,
increased opportunities for people to become dermatologists, and wider acceptance of different
insurance programs in the office are all viable ideas to overcome the system one step at a time.
