Remembering Dr. Craig Leonardi
The International Psoriasis Council (IPC) remembers Dr. Craig Leonardi, founding member and former President, whose research shaped modern psoriasis treatment.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Visual Differences in Psoriasis on Diverse Skin Tones
IMAGE GALLERY
Accurately diagnosing and assessing psoriasis in people with darker skin can be challenging, as many dermatology resources do not fully reflect the diversity of clinical presentations. To address these gaps, the International Psoriasis Council (IPC) developed this educational image tool to support diagnostic accuracy and promote equitable psoriasis care across diverse skin tones.
A global IPC survey informed the development of this resource, which focuses on dermatologists caring for patients with diverse skin tones. The survey identified important differences in plaque color, scale, morphology, and post-inflammatory pigmentation that are often underrepresented in existing references. The curated image collection highlights these variations, with particular attention to high-impact and commonly overlooked sites such as the scalp, genitals, nails, palms, and soles, as well as examples of delayed or untreated disease. Images are contributed by IPC members from all global regions and continue to be added as new submissions are received. The collection represents a diverse range of skin tones, psoriasis subtypes, and clinical settings to improve recognition of psoriasis and promote care equity worldwide.
Terms of Use
The images contained in this gallery are provided for educational purposes only and are not intended for clinical diagnosis or treatment. Users may download and use the images solely for educational, non-commercial purposes. Users must provide appropriate credit to the International Psoriasis Council and the contributing physicians, as specified on the image pages. Please read the full Terms of Use before using any images.
Submit Your Own Photos
IPC is interested in collecting photographs of psoriasis on all of skin, from all regions of the world. You can submit your photos to be added to this educational tool by completing this form.
Plaque Color
Psoriasis plaques can vary widely in color depending on the patient’s skin tone and the severity of the condition. While many dermatology resources often describe plaques as silvery white or pink on lighter skin tones, in patients with darker skin, the presentation can appear different. Plaques may appear more gray, purple, or hyper- or hypopigmented. Notably, pink plaques on darker skin may be more muted or less vibrant pink, distinct from how pink plaques typically appear in lighter skin. This subtlety is often underrepresented in traditional teaching tools.
- All
- Hyperpigmentation
- Hypopigmentation
- More Gray
- More Purple
- Pink on Dark Skin
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Post-Inflammatory Hyper/Hypopigmentation
In psoriasis, both hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation can occur as part of the healing process or because of post-inflammatory changes:
- Hyperpigmentation: Darker patches of skin in areas where psoriasis plaques have healed. These areas may appear brown, black, or darker shades compared to the surrounding skin, more prominent in individuals with darker skin.
- Hypopigmentation: Lighter patches in areas where psoriasis has resolved. These areas appear lighter than the surrounding skin, ranging from white to lighter shades of the individual’s natural skin tone, and can be more noticeable in individuals with darker skin.
These pigmentation changes are typically temporary but may persist. Survey results indicate that hyper- and hypopigmentation are more common in patients with darker skin.
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Scaling
Psoriasis plaques are commonly associated with induration and scaling across all skin tones. However, survey results indicate that scaling may appear rougher in people with darker skin, with more uneven, textured layers. Thicker scales may also be present, but this is often due to delayed treatment caused by misdiagnosis or access issues.
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High Impact Sites
Psoriasis on high-impact sites, such as the scalp, face, palms, soles, genitals, and nails, can be particularly challenging for people with darker skin. In these areas, psoriasis may result in pronounced hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, leading to persistent discoloration after lesions heal. Differences in how psoriasis presents on darker skin can lead to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis, complicating timely treatment. These factors contribute to the complexity of managing psoriasis on high-impact sites in patients with darker skin.
- All
- Scalp
- Face
- Palms
- Soles
- Genitals
- Nails
- Flexures
- Other
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Phenotypes
The presentation of psoriasis can vary across different skin tones. This section highlights key psoriasis phenotypes—erythrodermic, guttate, palmoplantar, and pustular—showing how these variations appear in diverse skin tones.
- All
- Guttate psoriasis
- Erythrodermic psoriasis
- Palmoplantar psoriasis
- Pustular psoriasis
- Inverse
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