Eczema, acne, and psoriasis in people with skin of colour: a qualitative UK-based study

Inflammatory dermatoses have a varied prevalence and appearance in diverse skin tones. The underrepresentation of people with skin of colour in medical education and clinical trials is widely acknowledged. However, there has been limited research on experiences from a patient perspective.

To explore the experiences of eczema, acne, and psoriasis in adults with skin of colour in the UK.

This was a qualitative study of 20 people in the UK with eczema, acne, and psoriasis and skin of colour, recruited using online methods.

Participants took part in online, one-to-one, semi-structured interviews. NVivo qualitative data analysis software was used to code and organise the data. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate themes using an iterative approach.

Participants were mostly female (65%, 13/20), Asian/Asian British ethnicity (45%, 9/20), and had eczema (55%, 11/20). We identified eight themes: delayed or missed diagnosis; preferences regarding healthcare professionals; lack of online information and social media use; misunderstanding in cultural communities; concerns about treatment and lack of research in skin of colour; complementary medicine use; experiences and impact of dyspigmentation; and challenges with structural racism.

The themes generated highlight the unique experiences and challenges faced by UK adults with eczema, acne, and psoriasis. The findings can help guide diagnostic approaches, culturally sensitive communication, and treatment discussions for patients with skin of colour. Further research is needed in this underrepresented group.