Skin of color in dermatopathology: does color matter?

Kyle A Williams; Bitania Wondimu; Ayodeji M Ajayi; Olayemi Sokumbi

doi:10.1016/j.humpath.2023.04.012

Skin of color in dermatopathology: does color matter?

Hum Pathol. 2023 Oct:140:240-266. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2023.04.012. Epub 2023 May 3.

Authors

Kyle A Williams¹, Bitania Wondimu², Ayodeji M Ajayi¹, Olayemi Sokumbi³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
² Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
³ Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA. Electronic address: Sokumbi.olayemi@mayo.edu.

PMID: 37146946
DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2023.04.012

Abstract

Skin of color (SoC) remains an understudied and under taught area of dermatology despite its rising importance. Race and ethnicity play a particularly important role in dermatology as skin pigmentation can affect the manifestation and presentation of many common dermatoses. With this review, we seek to review pertinent differences in SoC histology, as well as highlight the histopathology of conditions more common in SoC and address inherent bias that may affect accurate dermatopathology sign out.

Keywords: Dermatopathology; Disparities; Histopathology; Pigmentation; Race and ethnicity; Skin; Skin of color.