Teledermatology and chronic skin diseases: Real life experience in a Southern Italian Dermatologic Centre

Teledermatology During COVID-19: An Updated Review

“…In one Italian study that surveyed patients receiving TD treatment for acne during COVID-19, 92.3% of the 52 patients surveyed were satisfied with the attention given to them by their dermatologist, and 86.5% of patients were satisfied with the length of the visit [14]. Similarly, high satisfaction with acne care provided via TD was reported in another Italian study of 150 TD consults [15]. In yet another Italian study of 300 subjects, increased adherence to treatment in patients receiving reminder text messages (compared with patients not receiving any reminder messages) was reported and suggests the potential for a TD intervention to improve the continuity of care [16].…”

The reduction in the detection of melanoma during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a melanoma center of South Italy

“…The lockdown period following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been characterized by a drastic reduction in the number of accesses in dermatological departments. Preventive measures in order to avoid the risk of infection have been adopted and the majority of outpatient procedures and dermatological treatments have been postponed, except for urgent visits and oncologic patients (1).…”

“…Disease stage, corresponding to primary tumor thickness, represents the most important prognosis factor; therefore, an early diagnosis is essential for melanoma patients' survival rates (3). The reduction in the number of accesses in dermatological departments during the lockdown caused a reduction in new diagnosis of melanoma and may also lead to undetected or late detection of skin cancers increasing morbidity and mortality in the worldwide population (1,4). Finally, following the reduction of consultations for skin cancer screening during the pandemic period the implementation of screening campaigns and people information in order to increase the awareness of this public health problem should be considered (5).…”

Teledermatology and Inflammatory Skin Conditions during COVID-19 Era: New Perspectives and Applications

“…Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing disease that requires long-term treatments and frequent follow-ups [ 6 ]. Besides in-person consultations, teledermatology has become an opportunity in daily clinical settings for those who, for any reason, cannot attend the visit and at the same time require medical advice [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. In fact, Anderesen et al, through a retrospective review of the teledermatology database in the Faroe Islands, a group of 18 islands in the North Atlantic, concluded that teledermatology is indispensable in specific contexts, such as rural areas, while in non-rural ones, should be destined to evaluate which disease can benefit from either in-person or online visits to give selectivity on resources destined for telemedicine [ 12 ].…”

“…Moreover, since the worldwide spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection at the end of 2019, telemedicine has gained an increasingly important role in daily clinical practice, especially regarding patients affected by chronic diseases, such as psoriasis [ 16 , 17 ]. Villani and colleagues implemented an already existing teleconsultation service that was originally reserved for emergencies, and that turned routine during the COVID-19 pandemic, given the need to avoid social contacts [ 13 ]. Such measures appeared to be very important, particularly for those patients under immunosuppressive drugs that were at high risk of contracting the infection [ 13 ].…”