A shift in demographics is changing how dermatologists provide care for their patients, according to an American Medical Association article.

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2050 nearly 50 percent of patients will have skin of color, Sara Berg wrote in the article. As a result, dermatologists and primary care doctors must learn how to treat skin diseases and conditions that are more prevalent in such demographics.

These patients include people who are African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans. Dr. Seemal R. Desai, founder and director of a dermatology office in Plano, Texas, and president of the Skin of Color Society, said that medical professionals will need to understand more about skin of color as populations and demographics shift.

The results of a recent JAMA Dermatology study, show that medical professionals do not know much about disorders in skin of color and the potential for such people to get cancer, Berg wrote.