INTRODUCTION
Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory immune-mediated disease that occurs throughout the world.1 Although dermatologic disorders are common in all racial and ethnic groups,2 clinical data on psoriasis in skin of color is limited. From the data that are available, it appears that differences pertaining to prevalence, affected body surface area (BSA), clinical presentation, and quality of life exist among patients with psoriasis from various racial and ethnic groups.3-6 For example, the estimated prevalence of psoriasis among adults in the United States (US) is higher in the White population (3.6%) than in Black/African American (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.6%) populations.3 However, because psoriasis is more frequently undiagnosed in people of color, the prevalence of psoriasis in non-White populations is likely to be underestimated.7,8
Although the Hispanic population is the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the US,9,10 there is little available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of psoriasis therapies in this population.4,11,12 In Hispanic patients of any race, psoriasis is the third leading diagnosis in dermatology clinics, even though Hispanic patients may be less likely to seek dermatologic care compared with other races or ethnicities.2 Further, data have shown greater disease severity, worse psoriasis-related quality of life, and higher levels of undertreatment for psoriasis among Hispanic patients compared with other racial and ethnic groups.2,4,13,14 Given the rapid growth of the Hispanic population, the characteristic nature of psoriasis in Hispanic patients, and undertreatment in this ethnic subgroup, additional studies of psoriasis are warranted so ethno-racial differences in psoriasis may be better understood and treatment disparities among Hispanic patients can be addressed.
Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of psoriasis treatment, providing a high efficacy-to-safety ratio during daily use.15
Although the Hispanic population is the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the US,9,10 there is little available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of psoriasis therapies in this population.4,11,12 In Hispanic patients of any race, psoriasis is the third leading diagnosis in dermatology clinics, even though Hispanic patients may be less likely to seek dermatologic care compared with other races or ethnicities.2 Further, data have shown greater disease severity, worse psoriasis-related quality of life, and higher levels of undertreatment for psoriasis among Hispanic patients compared with other racial and ethnic groups.2,4,13,14 Given the rapid growth of the Hispanic population, the characteristic nature of psoriasis in Hispanic patients, and undertreatment in this ethnic subgroup, additional studies of psoriasis are warranted so ethno-racial differences in psoriasis may be better understood and treatment disparities among Hispanic patients can be addressed.
Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of psoriasis treatment, providing a high efficacy-to-safety ratio during daily use.15
