Diagnosing Atopic Dermatitis in Skin of Color

Waleed Adawi; Hannah Cornman; Anusha Kambala; Shanae Henry; Shawn G Kwatra

doi:10.1016/j.det.2023.02.003

Diagnosing Atopic Dermatitis in Skin of Color

Dermatol Clin. 2023 Jul;41(3):417-429. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2023.02.003. Epub 2023 Apr 12.

Authors

Waleed Adawi¹, Hannah Cornman¹, Anusha Kambala¹, Shanae Henry¹, Shawn G Kwatra²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
² Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Electronic address: skwatra1@jhmi.edu.

PMID: 37236711
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2023.02.003

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a pruritic inflammatory skin disease that disproportionately affects skin of color patients. African American, Asian, and Hispanic patients carry disproportionate disease burdens, with increased prevalence, disease severity, and health care utilization. AD has a unique clinical presentation in skin of color patients, often with greater extensor involvement, dyspigmentation, and papular and lichenified presentations. Erythema is also more difficult to appreciate and can result in an underappreciation of disease severity in skin of color patients. In this review, we highlight the important manifestations of AD across all skin types, including nuances in treatment.

Keywords: African American; Asian; Atopic dermatitis; Diagnosis; Eczema; Erythema; Itch; Skin of color.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Dermatitis, Atopic* / diagnosis
Dermatitis, Atopic* / epidemiology
Erythema
Ethnic and Racial Minorities
Humans
Skin
Skin Pigmentation