Psoriasis Health Disparities

Race and ethnicity are associated with health disparities among individuals with psoriasis.

Racial and/or ethnic minoritized individuals are 112% more likely to live with undiagnosed psoriasis than White individuals.
Compared to White individuals, individuals with skin of color wait 3 times longer to receive a diagnosis of psoriasis and are 3 times more likely to have a skin biopsy to confer a diagnosis.
Racial and/or ethnic minoritized individuals are 40% less likely to report having seen a dermatologist for psoriasis and have fewer ambulatory visits for psoriasis compared to Whites.
Compared to Whites, Asians, Hispanics, and Blacks experience higher rates of severe psoriasis.
Despite having more severe disease, use of biologic therapy is lower among Blacks compared to Whites.

References for all data on this page are available in the Psoriasis Health Indicator Report.

Skin of Color Resources

Explore articles on the impacts of psoriatic disease on people of color.

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A Black man listens to a podcast with headphones.

Listen: Psoriasis in Skin of Color

Hear dermatologist Dr. Mona Shahriari address why and how psoriasis presents in skin of color.

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An illustration of a human figure made up of jigsaw puzzle pieces in the different colors of skin.

Why Is Psoriasis Often Misdiagnosed in Skin of Color?

Too often people with darker skin tones struggle for an accurate diagnosis compared with those with fair skin.

This program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $351,404, with 2 percentage funded by CDC/HHS and $14.3 million amount and 98 percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.