Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Department of Dermatology, Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 719 Thompson Lane, Suite 26-300, Nashville, TN, 37204, USA.
Am J Clin Dermatol. 2023 Jul;24(4):577-593. doi: 10.1007/s40257-023-00770-y. Epub 2023 Jun 20.
Climate change has a pervasive impact on health and is of clinical relevance to every organ system. Climate change-related factors impact the skin's capacity to maintain homeostasis, leading to a variety of cutaneous diseases. Stratospheric ozone depletion has led to increased risk of melanoma and keratinocyte carcinomas due to ultraviolet radiation exposure. Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, pemphigus, acne vulgaris, melasma, and photoaging are all associated with rising levels of air pollution. Elevated temperatures due to global warming induce disruption of the skin microbiome, thereby impacting atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, and psoriasis, and high temperatures are associated with exacerbation of skin disease and increased risk of heat stroke. Extreme weather events due to climate change, including floods and wildfires, are of relevance to the dermatologist as these events are implicated in cutaneous injuries, skin infections, and acute worsening of inflammatory skin disorders. The health consequences as well as the economic and social burden of climate change fall most heavily on vulnerable and marginalized populations due to structural disparities. As dermatologists, understanding the interaction of climate change and skin health is essential to appropriately manage dermatologic disease and advocate for our patients.
气候变化对健康有广泛的影响，与每个器官系统的临床都相关。与气候变化相关的因素会影响皮肤维持体内平衡的能力，导致各种皮肤疾病。平流层臭氧消耗导致黑色素瘤和角质形成细胞癌的风险增加，这是由于紫外线辐射暴露。特应性皮炎、银屑病、天疱疮、寻常痤疮、黄褐斑和光老化都与空气污染水平的升高有关。由于全球变暖导致的温度升高会破坏皮肤微生物组，从而影响特应性皮炎、寻常痤疮和银屑病，高温与皮肤病恶化和中暑风险增加有关。气候变化引起的极端天气事件，包括洪水和野火，与皮肤科医生有关，因为这些事件与皮肤损伤、皮肤感染和炎症性皮肤疾病的急性恶化有关。由于结构性差异，气候变化对健康的影响以及经济和社会负担对弱势群体和边缘人群的影响最大。作为皮肤科医生，了解气候变化和皮肤健康的相互作用对于正确管理皮肤科疾病和为我们的患者发声至关重要。
