Key takeaways
• People of color with psoriasis often face significant challenges in receiving appropriate care, including delays in diagnosis and limited access to treatment, due to systemic issues within healthcare.
• Differences in how psoriasis appears on various skin tones, along with insufficient representation in medical education and research, contribute to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment for individuals with skin of color.
• Addressing these disparities requires multifaceted efforts from healthcare systems, providers, and researchers to improve training, increase diversity, and empower patients to advocate for their own care.
Members of racial and ethnic minority groups face multiple gaps in psoriasis care, compared with non-Hispanic white community members. According to a report from the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), they:
- are 112% more likely to live with undiagnosed psoriasis
- wait three times longer on average to get a psoriasis diagnosis
- are more likely to need a skin biopsy to confirm their diagnosis
- are less likely to have a dermatologist manage psoriasis care
People with skin of color also have higher rates of severe psoriasis and are less likely to be getting treatment with biologic therapy. This treatment can reduce symptoms in people with moderate to severe psoriasis.
Read on to learn more about differences in psoriasis presentation and treatment access among people with skin of color, including strategies to improve access to care.
Psoriasis causes inflamed, scaly patches of skin that may be itchy or painful.
The affected skin may look salmon, violet, purple, or dark brown with grayish scale on darker skin tones. It often looks pink, red, or violet with silvery scale on lighter skin tones.
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- Black people with psoriasis tend to have thicker psoriasis plaques.
- Black, Hispanic, and Asian people with psoriasis are more likely to have severe symptoms when they visit their doctor.
- People with skin of color often develop lasting dyspigmentation from psoriasis. The affected skin may appear lighter (hypopigmentation) or darker (hyperpigmentation) than surrounding skin, even after psoriasis plaques have cleared.
The location of psoriasis symptoms also varies. Compared with non-Hispanic white individuals:
- Black
pediatric populations are more likely to have psoriasis symptoms on their palms or the soles of their feet (palmoplantar psoriasis). - Black and Hispanic pediatric populations are more likely to have nail psoriasis.
- Black and Asian people are more likely to develop scalp psoriasis.
According to the NPF, approximately one in three people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis. This condition causes joint swelling, stiffness, and pain.
Dermatology experts and researchers have identified multiple barriers that make it harder for people with skin of color to get a psoriasis diagnosis and treatment.
Limited treatment access
According to a 2022 review, counties with high percentages of racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to have practicing dermatologists than counties with white majorities.
Members of racial and ethnic minority groups are also less likely than non-Hispanic white individuals to have private health insurance, or any insurance at all. Some dermatology clinics do not accept Medicaid, which can contribute to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Gaps in dermatology training and resources
In a 2021 study, researchers examined 15,445 images from dermatology textbooks and web-based resources. Only 10.3% of images from textbooks showed dark skin. Researchers have found low representation of dark skin tones in pediatrics textbooks,
Researchers have also raised concerns about bias in the medical images that developers use to train dermatology apps. According to a 2025 review, AI-assisted diagnostic tools are up to 15% less accurate in people with darker skin tones.
Lack of diversity in psoriasis research
Racial and ethnic minority groups are underrepresented in dermatology studies, especially studies on psoriasis. Members of these groups account for at least 20% of research participants in only
The lack of diversity in psoriasis research may limit knowledge on how to diagnose and treat psoriasis in people with skin of color.
Lack of diversity among doctors
Many racial and ethnic minority groups are underrepresented among doctors, including dermatologists. In 2024–2025, only 9.4% of dermatology residents in the United States identified as Black or African American. Only 9.2% identified as Hispanic.
Although it’s possible for doctors of any race and ethnicity to provide quality care, some patients feel more comfortable and satisfied seeing a doctor of the same race as them. Doctors from underrepresented communities may have experiences and perspectives that help them understand and address barriers that many patients face.
Health systems, doctors, and other health professionals can take multiple steps to reduce barriers to care for people with skin of color. Several groups have developed resources to help make these changes.
Improve treatment access
The authors of a 2022 review call on lawmakers to pass policies that encourage dermatologists to care for people with socioeconomic disadvantages, including people with Medicaid. This could improve treatment access for many community members.
Improve dermatology training and resources
The NPF’s Psoriasis Health Indicator Report emphasizes the importance of training health professionals on how to recognize psoriasis on skin of color and provide culturally competent care to patients with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has developed online resources to support this training, including the Skin of Color Curriculum and Medicine Without Barriers: Overcoming Unintended Bias in Practice. This organization also runs Curriculum for Advancing Racial Equity (CARE) workshops for doctors who are training in dermatology.
Doctors and students can also find educational resources and images through the:
It is also crucial for people who make and manage AI-assisted dermatology tools to include images of different skin tones in the data they use to train AI models.
Increase diversity in psoriasis research
A 2025 quality improvement study identified multiple strategies to increase diversity in psoriasis clinical trials. The authors encourage clinical trial developers to:
- Set a minimum enrollment level for diverse research participants.
- Reduce in-person visits and provide transportation services, translation services, and payment for missed work to help people take part in the study.
- Use a combination of self-reported race/ethnicity and objective skin tone measures.
- Use photography techniques that capture signs of skin disease on dark skin tones.
- Consult dermatologists who have experience treating minority populations.
- Train researchers using materials that cover cultural sensitivity and include pictures of skin conditions across all skin tones.
These strategies have helped researchers recruit a racially and ethnically diverse group of participants for an ongoing clinical trial on a psoriasis medication.
Promote diversity in dermatology
The AAD launched its Pathways and Diversity Mentorship Programs to encourage students from underrepresented communities to pursue an education and career in dermatology.
The AAD’s Diversity Champion Toolkit is available for dermatologists who want to encourage diversity in the field.
Getting treatment is important if you have a diagnosis of psoriasis or suspect you might have symptoms of the condition. To help you get the care you need:
- Talk with a doctor about your symptoms. If the doctor isn’t taking your concerns seriously, get a second opinion.
- If you do not have a dermatologist, ask your primary care doctor to refer you to one who accepts your insurance. You can also search online for dermatology services.
- If you can’t find a dermatologist who accepts your insurance, see if you can get help from your primary care doctor, a local health clinic, or a telehealth platform.
- Ask family, friends, or members of online support communities to recommend healthcare professionals or other resources to help you manage your condition.
- Learn more about your condition and treatment options through credible sources of information, such as Healthline, the AAD, and the NPF.
- Ask about biological therapy for moderate to severe psoriasis.
Your condition and treatment needs may change over time. Attending regular checkups is important for monitoring your condition and making treatment changes if needed.
People from racial and ethnic minority groups often face barriers to timely psoriasis diagnosis and care, including limited access to dermatologists and gaps in provider training and research. Improving equity will require action from healthcare systems and policymakers, alongside patient self-advocacy through education and open conversations with doctors.