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Changing dermatology practice in crisis and normalization processes after COVID-19 and potential problems awaiting us: Teledermatology can be a solution
  • Cagri Turan,
  • Ümran Öner,
  • Nurcan Metin
Cagri Turan
Erzurum Training and Research Hospital

Corresponding Author:cagrituranmd@gmail.com

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Ümran Öner
Erzurum Training and Research Hospital
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Nurcan Metin
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Abstract

Aims We aim to reveal the effect of the crisis period and normalization process after COVID-19 on dermatology practice, to anticipate future health problems, and demonstrate the necessity of teledermatology as a solution. Results The number of patients in the normalization (32.3%) increased compared to the crisis period (11.5%) but also it was found significantly lower than before the pandemic (56.2%). It was remarkable that the change in the distribution of stress-related diseases, such as idiopathic generalized pruritus, alopecia areata, and zona zoster, stably paralleled each other and the trend of increase and decrease during the crisis period and the normalization process, respectively. The increase in the frequency of contact dermatitis, which was not reflected in the crisis period, became evident in the normalization process (p<0.001). There was no significant change in the rate of scabies but a decrease in the number of patients (p=0.276). Discussion The decrease in stress-related diseases indicates that social stress started to decrease with normalization. Rates and the number of patients give an idea about the problems we may encounter aftermath pandemic. Scabies and venereal diseases, which concern public health, should not be neglected. We predicted that much more significant increases in the frequency of scabies will be recorded aftermath of COVID-19. Conclusion The extraordinary conditions that occur after the pandemic will make the management of some diseases, especially scabies, difficult in the future. The chaos that will occur when the unusually decreasing number of patients returns to normal can be alleviated by teledermatology.