American Academy of Dermatology Launches Campaign to Highlight the Importance of Dermatology

As the U.S. population ages, the number of Americans who suffer from skin diseases will continue to rise, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Skin diseases can be the first sign of an underlying health condition. Further, many chronic illnesses can lead to or exacerbate skin conditions.

“The skin is the largest organ of the body.  While it is our “packaging” and its appearance is important, the skin is an active barrier against the outside, an important part of the immune system, and can be a significant site of disease,” says Rutledge Forney, MD, founder of Dermatology Affiliates. “From itchy rashes to deadly skin cancer, the role of the dermatologist is much greater than blemishes, wrinkles and brown spots.”

Dermatologists are trained to treat the 3,000 conditions that fall under the umbrella of the specialty. However, there has been a trend in entertainment and the media to portray Dermatologists as merely glorified cosmetologists, and such popular YouTube sites as ‘Dr. Pimple Popper’ reinforce these stereotypes.

To help correct this misconception, the AAD is working to educate patients, other clinicians, and health insurance companies about the importance of Dermatology. As part of its SkinSerious campaign, the organization has produced an excellent video which highlights the importance of Dermatologists and how this specialty can help improve the health of patients.