The challenge of skin diseases in Europe

Skin and sexually transmitted diseases pose a major public health challenge for Europe. They range from minor transient problems to severe, debilitating diseases and include cancers, infectious diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases. The prevalence of these diseases, especially skin cancers, allergies and chronic wounds, is steadily increasing, due in part to environmental factors as well as aging of the European population. Their treatment involves profound health economic issues, as expensive new therapies are available for everyday problems like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. In addition, the sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, demand considerable resources. Correct diagnosis and prompt treatment can reduce these costs, cut morbidity and greatly improve the patients’ quality of life. Dermato-venereologists provide leadership in the undergraduate and graduate teaching and research of skin diseases as well as their prevention and modern treatment modalities. The White Book describes the burden of skin and sexually transmitted diseases to Europe and shows how provision of care and costs varies across the continent. It outlines the high impact diseases, their prevention and management, and provides up-to-date information on key clinical and scientific advances. A directory of national dermatological associations, European dermatology societies and patient organisations complete a valuable resource that will be useful to everyone involved in health care policy decisions. The White Book should be of interest to dermatologists, other physicians, the pharmaceutical industry and policy makers including medical schools and hospital administrators as well as politicians.