Diagnosis, assessment and management of atopic dermatitis in children with skin of colour.

BACKGROUND

It is important to be able to manage patients regardless of ethnicities. The understanding of skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, in patients with skin of colour (SOC) is lagging compared with that in patients with lighter skin and has been identified as an educational gap among medical practitioners.

OBJECTIVE

This paper synthesises the latest literature on the diagnosis, assessment, treatment outcomes and cultural considerations for managing atopic dermatitis in children with SOC in the general practice setting.

DISCUSSION: Atopic dermatitis in children with SOC can vary from traditional descriptions and appear psoriasiform, lichenoid, scaly, papular, hypopigmented or violaceous. It can be misdiagnosed and its severity underestimated. Complications from atopic dermatitis, as well as the treatments provided, might result in inadequate treatment unless the treating doctor is aware of specific nuances in children with SOC.