Dermatology outpatient clinic outcomes after COVID‐19 outbreak: What is new normal?

• Published in: Dermatologic therapy Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. e14950 - n/a
• Main Authors: Çaytemel, Ceyda, Erdem, Ozan, Ağırgöl, Şenay, Türkoğlu, Zafer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-05-2021
• Subjects: COVID‐19; dermatology; Original; outpatient; pandemic; COVID-19; dermatology; outpatient; pandemic
• ISSN: 1396-0296; 1529-8019
• DOI: 10.1111/dth.14950

Coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19), which emerged in late 2019 and caused a pandemic, has significantly affected outpatient admissions to dermatology outpatient clinics. There have been changes in the number and composition of the patients who applied to the outpatient clinics. The dermatology outpatient clinic applications have dramatically decreased due to restrictions and prohibitions, and active participation of dermatologists in the field immediately after the pandemic. The composition of the diagnoses has also altered for reasons such as excessive use of hygiene products and types of protective equipment usage related to COVID‐19. Intensive precautions have been taken in the first 3 months of the pandemic (March, April, and May). As of 12 May, controlled socialization started with new regulations. This period has been called “the normalization process.” This study aims to evaluate the changes of the patients admitted to dermatology outpatient clinics within the normalization process. Despite the increasing number of COVID‐19 patients and related deaths in the whole country with the new normal, the admissions to dermatology outpatient clinics have increased. During this period, acne and related diseases, pigmentation disorders, and viral skin infections had increased; dermatoses, xerosis cutis, and superficial fungal infections had reduced. It seems that nonurgent dermatological complaints affect the quality of life of patients and cause the need for an application. Although restrictions reduce these numbers, measures should be taken to protect patients and society during the ongoing pandemic.