How can dermatology take action against climate change?

A commentary in the International Journal of Dermatology stresses the need for dermatologists to engage more meaningfully on key climate issues and to move beyond discussions of the skin-related impacts of climate change.

The authors note that they and other dermatologists are professionally charged with diagnosing, treating, researching, and mitigating the health harms from climate change but also must consider that healthcare is among the most carbon-intensive service sectors worldwide.

They point out that significant reductions in carbon emissions are readily achieved in dermatology by increased use of telehealth services and virtual medical meetings and residency interviews. Also, dermatologists should prioritize funding for climate-health research to improve healthcare sustainability and decarbonize the profession.

“Our research, advocacy, and policies must be ambitious in scope, reaching beyond cutaneous disease to integrate the impact of climate change on social determinants of health and support resiliency and social justice invulnerable populations,” the authors wrote. “We have an ethical imperative to act. The time is now for dermatologists and our medical societies to collectively rise to meet this crisis.”

The article follows a 2021 editorial published en masse by 233 international medical journals that called for emergency action to limit global warming and adverse health effects related to climate change.

URL Upon Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijd.16301

Additional Information 

NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact:

Dawn Peters +1 781-388-8408 (US)
newsroom@wiley.com
Follow us on Twitter @WileyNews

About the Journal

The International Journal of Dermatology aims to provide dermatologists around the world with a regular, up-to-date source of information on all aspects of the diagnosis and management of skin diseases.

About Wiley

Wiley is a global leader in research and education, unlocking human potential by enabling discovery, powering education, and shaping workforces. For over 200 years, Wiley has fueled the world’s knowledge ecosystem. Today, our high-impact content, platforms, and services help researchers, learners, institutions, and corporations achieve their goals in an ever-changing world. Visit us at  Wiley.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.