Study of the skin disease spectrum occurring in an Afro-Caribbean population.

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of recent up-to-date studies on the incidence of skin disease among Afro-Caribbeans.

METHODS: One thousand patients were retrospectively studied for the commonest diagnoses made over a 5-month period from January to May 2001.

RESULTS: The commonest skin diseases seen were acne vulgaris (29.21%), seborrhoeic eczema (22.02%), pigmentary disorders (16.56%), and atopic eczema (6.1%). Other notable common diagnoses included keratosis pilaris, tinea infection, hirsuitism, folliculitis keloidalis nuchae, viral warts, dermatosis papulosa nigra, and confluent and reticulate papillomatosis.

CONCLUSION: The pattern of skin disease seen in the Afro-Caribbean population studied, more closely resembles those seen in developed countries than those seen in developing countries.