Community Dermatology: Skin Health for All

Abstract

The increased emphasis on skin health awareness is a mandate given by WHO especially for the developing world to
effective global health. The high and increasing global burden of skin diseases with the attendant morbidity, economic
and psychological effects has been severally documented in literature. Dermatologists are few and mainly in the urban
areas operating mostly at tertiary level of care. The framework to achieve the goal of WHO differs with the peculiar
nature of each community. Community Dermatology is a tool for outreach to underserviced areas and this promotes
equity in skin health. The involvement of the patient and all stakeholders in the communities combined with bridge
building with other members of health care team by the dermatologist is mandatory to achieve the vision of skin health
for all. We cannot meet all the needs with the current status of waiting for referrals in our tertiary hospitals. We need to
reach out into communities and connect all to our expertise. This write up highlights the need to raise awareness that
global skin health for all requires a paradigm shift in approach to give difficult-to-reach communities access to quality
skin care