[An introduction to skin disease in melanin rich skin]

More than a quarter of Sweden's population are of foreign background and as signs and prevalence of skin diseases vary across different skin types, lack of knowledge on this issue can potentially threaten health equity. In addition to being melanin rich, structural and functional characteristics in the skin of black individuals, such as hyperreactive melanocytes and fibroblasts, explain some of the common normal variations and the risk for dyschromia, hypertrophic scarring and keloids. A high content of melanin masks erythema, which can complicate assessment for the unexperienced, as can the follicular, papular and annular reaction patterns often seen in melanin rich skin. A curved hair follicle increases the risk for follicular conditions, such as pseudofolliculitis barbae, and preferred hair styles and certain characteristics of the hair shaft increase the risk for traction alopecia. Skin bleaching is a common phenomenon worldwide and dermatological and systemic complications related to common ingredients (topical potent corticosteroids, hydroquinone and mercury) are important to highlight.