Top Chief Complaints and Diagnoses for Outpatient Dermatology Patients of Color.

Background: By 2044, people with skin of color (SOC) in the United States are projected to become the majority of the population, yet research and practice gaps remain regarding the dermatologic conditions most common and concerning to populations with SOC.1,2 Objective: To investigate the most common outpatient dermatologic chief complaints and diagnoses in patients with SOC.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted investigating the top chief complaints and diagnoses in children and adult patients with SOC seen at the University of Southern California outpatient dermatology clinics over 10 years, from 2009 to 2019.

Results: A total of 4572 individuals were identified (2326 [58.9%] female; mean age [SD]: 46.0 [19.9] years). The 5 most common skin concerns were skin examination (21.5%), bumps/growths (20.8%), rash (19.8%), acne (10.0%), and skin discoloration (8.5%). The 5 most common diagnoses were benign nevi/neoplasm (38.8%), followed by dermatitis (20.8%), acne (13.3%), eczema and/or xerosis (9.0%), and dyspigmentation (7.7%). Differences were observed across racial/ethnic, age, and gender groups.

Conclusion: Findings from this study contribute valuable insights regarding the potential motivations for seeking dermatologic care across various demographical groups, underscoring the importance of patient-centered, evidence-based, and culturally competent care in the diagnosis and treatment of dermatological disease across diverse populations. J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(4):403-409. doi:10.36849/JDD.8532R1.