Objectives: Cutaneous diseases that disproportionately affect patients with darker pigmentation and their histologic features are historically understudied and undertreated. This review article aims to highlight the key clinical features, histopathology, and diagnostic pearls of several cutaneous diseases that commonly present in patients with darker pigmentation.
Methods: A literature search was conducted, and a list of cutaneous diseases that frequently affect patients with darker pigmentation was compiled. A group of experts expounded upon those that were most common or misdiagnosed according to scientific evidence and clinical practice.
Results: The diseases were divided into hypopigmented disorders, hyperpigmented disorders, scarring disorders, and alopecic disorders. Within each category, the etiology, clinical features, histopathology, and key histologic differential diagnoses are described and discussed.
Conclusions: As many clinicians are taught that there are no effective treatment options or that these diseases are considered "cosmetic" in nature, patients often do not get a thorough medical workup or skin biopsy. This article aims to decrease the knowledge gap and serve as a resource for anyone involved in the care of patients with these cutaneous conditions.
Keywords: alopecia; clinicopathologic correlation; cutaneous diseases; dermatopathology; pigmentary disorders; scarring disorders.
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