Overview
- The Global Access to Skin Health Observatory study, published Wednesday, found a world mean of 2.66 dermatologists per 100,000 people versus a benchmark of 5.63, leaving more than 80 percent of countries below the minimum.
- Researchers analyzed data from 158 countries covering about 97 percent of the global population and published country-level findings in JAMA Dermatology and an interactive Skin Observatory Data Explorer.
- Density varies sharply by income with roughly 0.37 dermatologists per 100,000 in low-income countries and about 5.05 per 100,000 in high-income countries, and no country in Africa or Southeast Asia meets the benchmark.
- Within countries, specialists cluster in cities with 79 percent of dermatologists based in urban areas and up to 91 percent in low-income countries, creating rural 'dermatological deserts' and long delays in diagnosis and care.
- Study authors and L'Oréal recommend practical steps such as expanding regional training, upskilling frontline health workers, and using telemedicine and AI to extend specialist reach and track progress through the Observatory platform.