"Psoriasis Treatment In Skin Of Color"
When it comes to treating psoriasis in non-white patients, there is a paucity of data on differences of epidemiology, clinical presentation and approaches to treatment. “Although psoriasis appears to have a lower prevalence in non-white racial ethnic groups, including African Americans, it is by no means an uncommon or rare disease,” said Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, associate professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, director of The Skin of Color Center at Mount Sinai, and site chair of the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West. The clinical presentation of psoriasis in darker skinned individuals can vary, based primarily on the visual appearance. For example, because of the background melanin pigmentation, “the erythema may look more violaceous, hyperpigmented or dark brown or gray,” added Dr. Alexis. “Therefore, one has to train the eye to detect psoriasis-related erythema in darker skin types.”
- Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director, The Skin of Color Center at Mount Sinai, Site Chair, Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai St. Luke’s-Mount Sinai West
