The Journey of Patients With Skin Diseases From the First Consultation to the Diagnosis in a Representative Sample of the European General Population From the EADV Burden of Skin Diseases Study
October 2023
in “
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
”
TLDR Many people with skin conditions don't seek professional help, often due to self-management beliefs.
The study analyzed the healthcare journey of 44,689 individuals with skin diseases across 27 European countries. It found that 30.3% consulted a dermatologist in the past 2 years, mainly for mole control or skin cancer screening. Common diagnoses by dermatologists included acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea, while GPs often diagnosed fungal infections. Notably, a significant portion of patients with acne (36.4%), alopecia (44.7%), and fungal infections (30.0%) did not seek professional healthcare, often due to self-management beliefs. The study emphasizes the need to understand patient journeys to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, highlighting the prevalence of skin conditions and the varied reasons for seeking dermatological care.
