Significant quality of life and financial impact of skin, hair and nail conditions remains under-recognised.
Representatives from patient support groups across Australia came together on Monday for an online roundtable to mark World Skin Health Day.
The gathering was held to discuss challenges and solutions for those impacted by skin diseases and their families.
It was hosted by the Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) with Sydney dermatologist Associate Professor Stephen Shumack offering a global patient perspective during the session.
“We know that skin, hair and nail conditions and their significant psychosocial and financial impact on people, their family and carers are too often under-recognised,” said Professor Shumack.
“And addressing this has been a key focus of ACD’s World Skin Health Day activities since 2018.”
The event coincided with World Skin Health Day which was marked globally on 8 July.
Discussions at the roundtable highlighted the need to increase recognition of the impact of dermatological conditions among policymakers, health professionals, media and the general public, including the quality of life and financial impact on patients and their families.
They also focussed on the need to continue advocacy to government to address inequities in access to care, treatment and support, particularly for those in regional and rural Australia and from diverse cultural backgrounds.
“This was a valuable opportunity to explore the collective insights and knowledge that we can bring together to highlight the burden of skin, hair and nail conditions, and the joint actions needed to improve awareness and understanding”, said Professor Shumack.
World Skin Health Day was established in 2013 by the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and International Society of Dermatology (ISD). Until this year, activities have taken place on different days in different parts of the world. 2024 marks the launch of an annual dedicated day of awareness-raising, aimed at highlighting the significant impact of skin diseases and the need for more education and increased equity of access to treatment for patients globally.
“For ACD, World Skin Health Day has been an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with patient support groups and other organisations to progress our joint commitment to ensuring the highest standard of skin health and dermatology care is available and accessible to all patients and communities”, said Professor Shumack.
ILDS President Professor Henry W. Lim paid tribute to the ACD’s support group roundtable and for supporting the global call for “skin health for all”.
“Living with skin diseases can have a devastating impact on those affected and, with many patients disabled or socially isolated by their condition, skin diseases also put a significant strain on already stretched public health systems and on economic productivity,” he said.
ISD President Dr Nellie Konnikov said that World Skin Health Day activities during the past decade had reached more than 42 million people, while providing essential dermatological care to more than 190,000 patients in over 50 countries.
“We thank everyone who has contributed to ensure that World Skin Health Day impacts positively on people’s lives,” she said.
“Please join us this year by undertaking skin health related activities which raise awareness, provide care or educational opportunities to extend the reach of World Skin Health Day to further benefit individuals and communities around the world.”
