Acne in skin of color

  • Is common in people of skin of color
    • Dlova et al. 10% of patients who attended clinic, 4th most common diagnosis in South Africa
  • Clinical presentation
    • Hyperpigmentation is a significant clinical manifestation
      • Acne hyperpigmented macules
      • Mechanism is not post-inflammatory - biopsy shows ongoing inflammation - better called peri-inflammatory hyperpigmentation - resolves with acne resolution, no treatment needed
      • Postacne hyperpigmentation index (PAHPI) - a new hyperpigmentation
    • Erythema is not visible
    • Papules and pustules can still be seen - palpate lesions
    • Tendency to underestimate the degree of severity
    • Hypertrophic and atrophic scarring
  • Abuse/Misuse of topical steroids
    • May be used to lighten skin or to treat acne associated with PIHR
    • May cause/exacerbate acne
    • Consider if unusual age of onset, clinical lesions are monomorphic with inflammatory papules or papulopustules, location of acne beyond the seborrhoeic zones, resistance to conventional therapy
    • Consider potency and duration of topical steroid being used
    • Look for other signs of topical steroid misuse
    • Can cause hypertrichosis
    • Monomorphic papules and pustules
    • Excessive striae
    • Hyperpigmentation over the joints and hypopigmentatin between the joints
  • DDx in skin of color
    • Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
      • Commonly occurs in persons with tick, tightly culed hair including men and women of African descent
      • Prevalence of 45-83% in africanamerican servicemen
      • Pathogenesis
        • Curly hair
        • Shaving technique
        • Mutation in hair-follicle keratin 75 (formerly K6hf): a substitution mutation in the 1A alpha-helical segment of the hair follicle-specific keratin 75 (formerly K6hf) has been demonstrated in individuals with PFB. This keratin is present in the companion layer of hair follicles and also in the medulla of hair shaft (present only in the beard region)
    • F.A.C.E. (Facial Afro-Caribbean Childhood Eruption)
      • Around the mouth, eyes and ears
      • Childhood granulomatous periorificial dermatitis
      • No comedones
      • Histology: granulomas associated with hair follicles
    • Syringomas
      • Papules around the eyes