Brief
Dermatologists warn keloid misdiagnosis plagues patients with darker skin
Limited dermatology training on richly pigmented skin contributes to missed keloid diagnoses, experts say.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Patients with richly pigmented skin often face delayed diagnosis of keloids, a painful scar tissue growth, because many clinicians lack training on how the condition appears on darker tones, Deccan Chronicle reported.
What happened
Keloids develop after minor injuries such as acne, piercings, cuts, burns or surgery and continue to grow beyond the original wound. While they are not cancerous, they can cause pain, itching, cosmetic concerns and emotional distress. The article notes that misdiagnosis as acne, cysts or ordinary scars can delay referral to a dermatologist, making treatment harder.
What the reports add
Dr Meenu Malik, a consultant in dermatology at Aakash Healthcare, said clinicians often receive limited exposure to dermatological conditions on darker skin, leading to confusion between keloids and other lesions. Dr Radhika Raheja, consultant at Asian Hospital, highlighted a growing health‑equity awareness that patients with darker skin face barriers to timely care.
What was said
“Although keloids are more common in people with richly pigmented skin, many clinicians receive limited training in recognising dermatological conditions in these populations,” Dr Malik told Deccan Chronicle. “This can result in keloids being misidentified as acne‑related lesions, cysts, or ordinary scars, delaying referral to a dermatologist and postponing effective treatment.”
Dr Raheja added, “From a health‑equity perspective, there is growing recognition that patients with darker skin tones often face barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment of keloids.”
How it came about
The article links the diagnostic gap to historic medical curricula that emphasized lighter‑skin presentations, leaving many practitioners unfamiliar with the visual cues of keloids on darker tones. This systemic oversight contributes to prolonged patient suffering and highlights broader disparities in skin‑condition recognition.
Key facts
- Keloids can develop after minor injuries and continue growing beyond the original wound. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Patients with darker skin are more likely to have keloids misdiagnosed as acne, cysts, or ordinary scars. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Dr Meenu Malik says limited training on dark‑skin dermatology leads to delayed referrals. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Dr Radhika Raheja notes growing recognition of health‑equity barriers for darker‑skinned patients. (deccanchronicle.com)
Sources
- [1] deccanchronicle.com — originally reported as “Time To Go Beyond Scar to Strength”
