Definition of race

The characteristics of our species, Homo sapiens, are continuously variable, and hence the division into ‘races’ is – to some extent – artificial. However, there are obvious differences between groups of humans, and these differences have an influence on the appearance of and susceptibility to disease. Most definitions of a ‘race’ are unsatisfactory, but perhaps the best is ‘a population that differs significantly from other populations in regard to the frequency of one or more of the genes that it possesses’. Obviously, this definition allows even rather small groups to be classified as a race!

It is generally assumed that changes in gene frequency result from mutation, natural selection and ‘accidental’ loss. Some changes are thought to be the result of adaptation to environmental conditions, although it is not always obvious what advantage is conferred. Racial classification has relied on physical characteristics, often skeletal, although hair form and skin colour are taken into account. The main divisions are the following:

Racial differences in normal skin

The most obvious difference is in pigmentation (p. 74), but hair forms and colour also vary. Mongoloid hair is straight and has the largest diameter; black African hair is short, spiralled, drier and more brittle than that of other races; and caucasoid hair may be wavy, straight or helical. Hair colour is predominantly black in mongoloids and Africans, and black, blond or red in caucasoids. Body hair is most profuse in caucasoids. The black African stratum corneum differs from that of the caucasoid by showing greater intercellular adhesion and a higher lipid content.

Diseases that show racially dependent variations

In pigmented skin, eruptions that appear red or brown in white caucasoid skin may be black, grey or purple, and pigmentation can mask an erythematous reaction. Inflammation in pigmented skin often provokes a hyperpigmentary (Figs 1 and 2) or hypopigmentary (Table 1) reaction. Follicular, papular and annular patterns are more common in pigmented skin than in caucasoid. In addition, some skin disorders show an inter-racial variation in prevalence (Table 2).

Fig. 1 Lichen simplex chronicus showing hyperpigmentation and lichenification.

Fig. 2 Lichen planus with hyperpigmentation.

Table 1 Causes of hypopigmentation in a pigmented skin

Diseases with a distinct racial or ethnic predisposition

Hair disorders

Racially dependent hair conditions are most common in black Africans and include the following:

Folliculitis keloidalis describes discrete follicular papules, often keloids, at the back of the neck in African males (Fig. 3). Intralesional steroids may help.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a common disorder in black African men and is characterized by inflammatory papules and pustules in the beard area. It is thought to result from hairs growing back into the skin (Fig. 4). Treatment is difficult but includes attention to shaving technique and the topical use of antibiotics and steroids.

Traction alopecia is mainly seen in black Africans because of the practice of plaiting or tightly braiding the hair (Fig. 5). Hairs are loosened from their follicles. The temples are often affected.

Hot-comb alopecia is a traction alopecia caused by applying a hot comb to oiled hair in order to straighten it (curly black African hair is usually straightened by chemical methods).

Fig. 3 Folliculitis keloidalis.

Fig. 4 Pseudofolliculitis barbae.

Fig. 5 Traction alopecia.

Pigmentary changes

Pigmentary abnormalities, as both a variation of ‘normal’ and otherwise, are also common. These include the following:

Dermatosis papulosa nigra describes small, seborrhoeic wart-like papules often seen on the face in black Africans.

Lines of hypo- or hyperpigmentation, often on the upper arms, are not infrequently found in black Africans.

Longitudinal nail pigmentation and macular pigmentation of palms and soles occur mainly in black Africans.

Mongolian spot is a slate-brown pigmentation at the sacral area in a baby and is found in 100% of mongoloids, 70% or more of Africans and 10% of caucasoids. It usually fades by the age of 6 years.

Naevus of Ota is a macular, slate-grey pigmentation in the upper trigeminal area, which may involve the sclera (Fig. 6). It is seen most frequently in mongoloids.

Fig. 6 Naevus of Ota.

Web resource

http://www.brownskin.net/conditions.html