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.
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