Psoriasis affects 2% of the world’s population and occurs in a bimodal distribution, peaking in early and late adulthood. Chronic plaque psoriasis is the most common variant and presents as well demarcated erythematous plaques with prominent white scale on the scalp and extremities.
The erythema of psoriasis varies across the spectrum of skin tones, ranging from a salmon and deep reddish hue to a conspicuous violaceous color with areas of hypo- and hyperpigmentation.
Nuances to Highlight
In darker skin tones, it may be hard to unmask the color in hyperkeratotic plaques. Thus, it is important to consider other conditions such as hypertrophic lichen planus, chronic eczematous plaques, or lichenoid eruptions which can present similarly in hyperpigmentation and violaceous hue.
Further Reading
If you want to learn more about diagnosing and treating psoriasis in diverse skin tones, check out the following articles:
Psoriasis in Skin of Color: Are there differences in Presentation and Treatment?
This article is part of Next Steps in Derm series “The Many Faces of” which showcases side-by-side images of some of the most commonly seen dermatology conditions in an array of skin tones and briefly highlight nuances in clinical presentation. All images featured in the series are part of The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas, a resource developed by co-editors Misty Eleryan, MD, MS, and Adam Friedman, MD, and published by SanovaWorks and Educational Testing & Assessment Systems.
Acknowledgements
We thank co-editors Misty Eleryan, MD, MS, and Adam Friedman, MD for reviewing the content of this article.
Reference
Eleryan, Misty, and Adam Friedman. The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas. SanovaWorks, 2021.
NOW AVAILABLE! Visit the online image gallery for The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas, where you will find high-quality images that you will be able to use, free of charge, for non-commercial educational purposes. Access the online gallery here.
The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas DIGITAL EDITION is available for purchase here.
If you missed previous articles from this series, you can find them here.
