Pacific people living in New Zealand are most commonly referred with eczema to dermatologists.

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of literature concerning dermatological conditions affecting patients of Pacific ethnicity.

Aim: To investigate dermatological conditions in patients of Pacific ethnicity referred to dermatology from 2016 to 2022.

Methods: Single-centre study of electronic referrals to dermatology from January 2016 to May 2022.

Results: Pacific ethnicity was recorded for 1.7% of 30,769 referrals to dermatology, under-representing census data for the local population (5.4%). Dermatological diagnoses were eczema in 36% of patients, benign skin lesions in 11% and skin infection in 8.3%.

Conclusion: Eczema was the most common reason for referral to dermatology in patients of Pacific ethnicity in the Waikato Region.