10 Most Common Black Skin Conditions and their treatment
Black Skin Conditions and their treatment
Here are the 10 most common conditions I see in black skin:
1. Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra
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2. Acanthosis Nigricans
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder characterised by darkening (hyperpigmentation) and thickening (hyperkeratosis) of the skin, occurring mainly in the folds of the skin in the armpit (axilla), groin and back of the neck.
Thickened brown velvety textured patches of skin that may occur in any location but most commonly appear in the folds of the skin in the armpit, groin and back of the neck. While they appear mostly in people who are obese or with diabetes, darker skin is also a risk factor.
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3. Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is a form of acquired hair loss that results from prolonged or repetitive tension on the scalp hair. It was first described in 1907 in subjects from Greenland who had developed hair loss along the hairline due to prolonged wearing of tight ponytails.
Alopecia due to traction can be caused by regularly wearing tight chignon, cornrows, dreadlocks, weaves and braids. Also using hair extensions, chemical relaxers, and rollers.
4. Acne Keloidalis Nuchae
Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (AKN) is an unusual form of folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicle unit) and cicatrical alopecia (scarring hair loss) that affects the nape of the neck. The condition may persist for many years.
AKN is more common in dark-skinned people than in whites, and most often affects adult Afro-Caribbean males with black curly hair. It is 20 times more common in males than in females.
5. Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (as known as razor bumps)
Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a foreign-body inflammatory reaction surrounding ingrown facial hairs, which results from shaving. It can also occur on any body site where hair is shaved or plucked, including axilla, pubic area, and legs.
It is also known as shaving rash or razor bumps. Prevalence of folliculitis barbae and pseudofolliculitis barbae is higher among males of African ancestry than among Caucasian men. Both disorders can also affect women of all races. They are associated with improper shaving practices.
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6. Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is temporary pigmentation that follows injury (e.g. thermal burn) or inflammatory disorder of the skin (e.g. dermatitis, infection). It is mostly observed in darker skin types.
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation can occur in anyone, but is more common in darker-skinned individuals, in whom the colour tends to be more intense and persist for a longer period than in lighter skin colours.
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7. Confluent of Reticulated Papillomatosis (as known as Gougerot-Carteaud Syndrome)
Confluent and Reticulated Papillomatosis (CRP) is a rare condition of the skin characterized by chronic scaling, brown patches and plaques that affect the neck and upper trunk. No risk factors for Confluent and Reticulated Papillomatosis have been identified. The condition is mostly seen in older children, teens, and young adults.
The exact cause of this condition is also unknown. However, several potential causes, such as hormonal imbalance and bacterial infections, have been proposed to explain Confluent and Reticulated Papillomatosis. The prognosis of the disorder is good, with appropriate topical and/or antimicrobial treatment.
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8. Melasma
Melasma is a chronic skin disorder that results in symmetrical, blotchy, brownish facial pigmentation. It can lead to considerable embarrassment and distress. Melasma is more common in women than in men; only 1-in-4 to 1-in-20 affected individuals are male, depending on the population studied.
It generally starts between the age of 20 and 40 years, but it can begin in childhood or not until middle age. Melasma is more common in people that tan well or have naturally brown skin compared with those who have fair skin or black skin.
9. Keloids
Keloid scars are firm, smooth, hard growths due to spontaneous scar formation. They can arise soon after an injury, or develop months later. Keloids may be uncomfortable or itchy, and may be much larger than the original wound.
Keloids may form on any part of the body, although the upper chest and shoulders are especially prone to them.The precise reason that wound healing sometimes leads to keloid unclear.While most people never form keloids, others develop them after minor injuries, burns, insect bites and acne spots. They are most common in black skin and Asian skin.
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10. Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder of the skin, in which pigment cells (melanocytes) are lost. It presents with well-defined milky-white patches of skin (leukoderma).
Vitiligo can be cosmetically very disabling, particularly in people with dark skin. The disorder affects all races and both sexes equally. However, it is more noticeable in people with darker skin.
Featured image photo courtesy of Tuvalkin on Wikimedia Commons
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The Specialist doctor from the University Hospital in Gothenburg, alumnus UC Berkeley. My doctoral dissertation is about Digital Health and I have published 5 scientific articles in teledermatology and artificial intelligence and others.
