Investigating demographic differences in women's dermatologic concerns: a large urban cohort study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Limited research exists on dermatologic conditions across diverse female populations.
• Understanding prevalence in women, particularly women of color (WOC), is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize common dermatologic diagnoses in adult women.
• To identify conditions disproportionately affecting WOC, including acne, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), hypertrophic scars, and alopecia.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study analyzing 637,124 patient visits (2018-2021).
• Included 212,223 unique patients, focusing on 398,431 visits by women.
• Demographic and clinical data analyzed using logistic and linear regression.

Main Results:

• Women comprised 62.5% of dermatology visits, with higher likelihoods of acne, HS, and alopecia compared to men.
• WOC (Black, Asian, Hispanic) were younger on average and had increased odds of alopecia, hypertrophic scars, acne, and HS.
• Acne was most common in women under 30; cosmetic procedures were less frequent in WOC.

Conclusions:

• Women, particularly WOC, face a disproportionate burden of common dermatologic conditions.
• Complications like hyperpigmentation and scarring in WOC exacerbate morbidity.
• Timely and accurate diagnosis is vital for improving dermatologic outcomes in women.