Important disparities persist in diagnosis, treatment access, and outcomes of psoriasis in skin of color (SOC) populations despite therapeutic advances.
In a review published in Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, two Brazilian physicians examined variations on the clinical presentation of psoriasis, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic considerations in patients with SOC.
First author Anderson Costa, MD, is a dermatologist and researcher with Hospital Ipiranga in São Paulo. The authors were not available for interview, but we have distilled and organized excerpts from the paper into a Q&A format to make it useful for readers.
What are the most notable diagnostic considerations for psoriasis patients with SOC?
The clinical presentation of psoriasis varies considerably depending on the patient's skin phototype, posing particular diagnostic challenges in individuals with SOC. While plaque psoriasis is classically described in fair-skinned populations (Fitzpatrick phototypes I–III) as erythematous plaques covered by silvery-white scales, these typical presentations are often substantially modified in patients with darker skin tones (phototypes IV–VI), leading to diagnostic delays and errors.
