Educational and research gaps in treating plaque psoriasis in patients with skin of color can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Until recently, studies focusing on plaque psoriasis in diverse populations of people of color were lacking, explains Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH. “Given variations in epidemiology, clinical presentation, and impact on QOL, it is important to better understand special considerations and distinct features of plaque psoriasis in patients with skin of color,” he says. “Educational and research gaps when treating psoriasis in patients of color can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.”
Dr. Alexis and colleague, Mona Shahriari, MD, presented their findings on “The Many Shades of Plaque Psoriasis: Considerations for Treating Skin of Color” at the 2023 Fall Clinic Dermatology Conference held October 19-23, 2023 in Las Vegas. The conference is a 4-day CME course that provides a comprehensive update on the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions related to medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.
Dermatologists Must Broaden Their Color Palette
Previously, Dr. Alexis addressed how dermatological conditions such psoriasis present in richly pigmented patients when compared with White patients. This creates “some clinical and therapeutic nuances,” he says. Dr. Alexis encourages dermatologists and other healthcare professionals to consider “broadening our color palate” when it comes to treating persons of color.
If dermatologists are treating patients of color for a skin condition and are looking for “shades of bright red and pink” in a person with richly pigmented skin, they may either overlook the condition or underestimate its severity.
In a past study, Dr. Alexis and colleagues found that the impact of psoriasis on HRQOL, as measured by Dermatology Life Quality Index, was greater in self-identified Black/African American, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino patients, when compared with White patients. He cited an ongoing investigation, a first-of-its-kind large scale prospective clinical study dedicated specifically to people of color with moderate to severe psoriasis, that showed high rates of skin clearance and positive impact on QOL using biologic medication versus placebo.
“Continued research into clinical variations, treatment responses, and the impact of psoriasis on QOL for patients with skin of color, including the sequela of post-inflammatory pigment alteration, will help clinicians provide better outcomes for our patients,” Dr. Alexis says.
