Abstract
The dermatologic literature, while limited, has recognized the various presentations of skin disorders in black, white, and Asian skin. Although dermatologists rely on clinical appearance (i.e., the lesion’s morphology, color, location, etc.) to make a diagnosis, racial variations do exist. For example, unique skin disorders afflicting black skin have been documented both clinically and histologically. The diagnostic challenge, then, is in recognizing these unique diseases as well as the variations of the “classic” morphology of common maladies. In this chapter, we discuss (1) the normal histology of black skin, (2) the presentations of common skin diseases, (3) the normal variants seen, and (4) dermatoses more commonly seen in black skin.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Brauner GJ: Cutaneous Disease in Black Races. In: Moschella SL, Hurley HJ, eds. Dermatology, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1985:1904–1945.
Weigand DA, Haygood C, Gaylor J: Cell layers and density of negro and caucasian stratum corneum. J Invest Dermatol 1974; 62: 563–568.
Montagna W, Carlisle K: The architecture of black and white facial skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1991; 24: 929–937.
Andersen KE, Maibach HI. Black and white human skin differences. J Am Acad Dermatol 1979; 1: 276–282.
McLaurin CI: Cutaneous reaction patterns in blacks. Dermatol Clin 1988; 6: 353–362.
Kenney JA, Jr: Vitiligo. Dermatol Clin 1988; 6: 425–434.
O’Farrell NM: Pityriasis alba. AMA Arch Dermatol 1956; 73: 376–377.
Martin RF, Lugo-Somolinos A, Sanchez JL: Clinicopathologic conference study on pityriasis alba. Bol Asoc Med PR 1990; 82: 463–465.
McDonald CJ: Dermatologie problems in black skin. Prog Dermatol 1973; 7: 15–20.
Wentzell JM, Baughman RD: Pityriasis alba. In: Demis DJ, chief editor. Clinical Dermatology. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1990: Unit 13–5.
McDonald CJ, Kelly AP: Dermatology of black skin. In: Demis DJ, chief editor. Clinical Dermatology. Philadelphia: Harper and Row, 1987: Unit 30–1.
Parsons JM: Pityriasis rosea update: 1986. J Am Acad Dermatol 1986; 15: 159–167.
Futcher PH: A peculiarity of pigmentation of the upper arm of negroes [letter]. Science 1938; 88: 570–571.
James WD, Carter JM, Rodman OG. Pigmentary demarcation lines: a population survey.J Am Acad Dermatol 1987; 16: 584–590.
Monash S: Normal pigmentation in the nails of the Negro. Arch Dermatol Syphilol 1932; 25: 876–878.
Brauner GJ: Keratosis puncta [letter]. Arch Dermatol 1981; 117: 66.
Rustad OJ, Vance JC: Punctate keratoses of the palms and soles and keratotic pits of the palmar creases. J Am Acad Dermatol 1990: 22: 468–476.
Weiss RM, Rasmussen JE: Karatosis punctata of the palmar creases. Arch Dermatol 1980; 116: 669671.
Selmanowitz VJ, Krivo JM: Hypopigmented markings in Negros. Int J Dermatol 1973; 12: 229235.
Brauner GJ: Cutaneous disease in black children. Am J Dis Child 1983; 137: 488–496.
Cordova A: The mongolian spot; A study of ethnic differences and a literature review. Clin Pediatr 1981; 20: 714–719.
Vollum DI: Skin markings in children from the West Indies. Br J Dermatol 1971; 85: 260–263.
Kikuchi I: The biological significance of the mongolian spot. Int J Dermatol 1989; 28: 513–514.
Monash S: Normal pigmentation of the oral mucosa. Arch Dermatol Syphilol 1933; 26: 139147.
Sandstead HR, Lowe JW: Leukoedema and keratosis in relation to leukoplakia of the buccal mucosa. J Natl Cancer Inst 1953; 14: 423–437.
Archard HO, Carlson KP, Stanley HR: Leukoedema of the human oral mucosa. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1968; 25: 717–728.
Martin JL, Crump EP: Leukoedema of the buccal mucosa in Negro children and youth. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1972; 34: 49–58.
Grimes PE, Arora S, Minus HR, Kenney JA, Jr: Dermatosis papulosa nigra. Cutis 1983; 32: 385386, 392.
Kauh YC, McDonald JW, Rapaport JA, et al: Surgical approach for dermatosis papulosa nigra. Int J Dermatol 1983; 22: 590–592.
Knox JM, Knox JM; Keloids. In: Demis DJ, chief editor. Clinical Dermatology. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1990: Unit 4–15.
Kelly AP: Keloids. Dermatol Clin 1988; 6: 413424.
Osman AAA, Gumma KA, Satir AA: Highlights on the etiology of the keloid. Int Surg 1978; 63: 33–37.
Onwukwe MF: Surgery and methotrexate for keloids [letter]. Schoch Letter 1978; 28: 4.
McLaurin CI: Pediatric dermatology in black patients. Dermatol Clin 1988; 6: 457–473.
Kahn G, Rywlin AM: Acropustulosis of infancy. Arch Dermatol 1979; 115: 831–833.
Ramamurthy RS, Reveri M, Esterly NB, Fretzin DF, Pildes RS: Transient neonatal pustular melanosis. J Pediatr 1976; 88: 831–815.
Dinehart SM, Herzberg AJ, Kerns BJ, Pollack SV: Acne keloidalis: A review. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1989; 15: 642–647.
Goette DK, Berger TG: Acne keloidalis nuchae. A transepithelial elimination disorder. Int J Dermatol 1987; 26: 442–444.
LoPresti P, Papa CM, Kligman AM: Hot comb alopecia. Arch Dermatol 1968; 98: 234–238.
Sperling LC, Sau P: Follicular degeneration syndrome. Arch Dermatol 1992; 128: 68–74.
Crounse RG: Lipedematous alopecia. In: Demis DJ, chief editor. Clinical Dermatology. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1990: Unit 2–38.
Scott DA: Disorders of the hair and scalp in blacks. Dermatol Clin 1988; 6: 387–395.
Curtis JW, Heising NA: Lipedematous alopecia associated with skin hyperelasticity. Arch Dermatol 1964; 89: 819–820.
Coskey RJ, Fosnaugh RP, Fine G: Lipedematous alopecia. Arch Dermatol 1961; 84: 135–138.
Berne B, Venge P, Oilman S: Perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens (Hoffman): Complete healing with oral zinc therapy. Arch Dermatol 1985; 121: 1028–1030.
Haider RM: Hair and scalp disorders in blacks. Cutis 1983; 32: 378–380.
Curry SS, Gaither DH, King LE, Jr: Squamous cell carcinoma arising in dissecting perifolliculitis of the scalp. J Am Acad Dermatol 1981; 4: 673–678.
Rosen T, Martin S: Atlas of black dermatology. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1981.
Brown LA, Jr: Pathogenesis and treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae. Cutis 1983; 32: 373–375.
Stevens MC, Padwick M, Serjeant GR: Observations on the natural history of dactylitis in homozygous sickle cell disease. Clin Pediatr 1981; 20: 311–317.
DeJong R, Platou RV: Sickle cell hemoglobinopathy: An anatomic sign Am J Dis Child 1967; 113: 271–272.
Zizmor J: The extra transverse digital crease. A skin sign found in sickle cell disease. Cutis 1973; 11: 447–449.
Cornbleet T, Schorr HC, Barsky S: Pseudoophiasis and sickle cell anemia. AMA Arch Dermatol 1959; 59: 519–521.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kostelnik, K.E., Ditre, C.M. (1994). Diseases Among Black People. In: Parish, L.C., Millikan, L.E., Amer, M., Graham-Brown, R.A.C., Klaus, S.N., Pace, J.L. (eds) Global Dermatology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2614-7_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2614-7_23
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7607-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-2614-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive