Pigmentary Disorders in Skin of Color: Histopathologic Overview.

Disorders of pigmentation in individuals with skin of color (SOC) are frequently encountered in dermatologic practice and often pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. These conditions can lead to significant psychosocial distress and reduced quality of life. This review provides an in-depth analysis of pigmentary disorders in SOC, emphasizing their clinical manifestations, histopathologic features, and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Additionally, the review highlights pigmentary mimics of disorders, with inflammatory or systemic associations, and emphasizes histopathologic characterization to improve diagnostic precision and support patient-centered care.