PARIS – Widening access to skincare expertise, especially for people in underserved areas, is essential to the longer term of dermatology, in line with Myriam Cohen-Welgryn, global president of L’Oréal’s Dermatological Beauty Division.

That division desires to “pioneer life-changing and sustainable dermatological solutions. It’s really the life-changing a part of it that counts here, since you see people who find themselves affected of their quality of life,” she said in an interview prior to setting off to the World Congress of Dermatology.

The event takes place every 4 years, and the newest session is in Singapore, from July 3 to eight. It counts around 12,000 delegates from greater than 120 countries and has as its theme “dermatology beyond borders.”

On the congress, L’Oréal has just presented two major studies that would influence future focuses in the sphere, each in practice and in product development.

One study was carried out by the group’s La Roche-Posay brand on pigmentation disorders, or PDs. It’s billed to be the primary global epidemiological study of its kind, surveying 48,000 people.

Findings showed that such disorders are widespread, with 50 percent of the population having no less than one. In addition they revealed that disorders greatly impact people’s quality of life, often resulting in stigmatization. Amongst respondents, 44 percent with a PD said they’ve hidden or concealed visible sections of their affected skin, and 32 percent have avoided other people due to their disorders.

Vichy Laboratories, one other L’Oréal-owned brand, ran a large-scale study on how hormones impact skin and scalp health, and likewise explored their link to wellbeing. It surveyed 20,000 women in 20 countries, with all skin types and ages. People shared information on how cycle irregularity, post-partum and perimenopause can impact self-perception of skin and scalp disorders, and affect wellbeing.

Seventy-two percent of ladies said such hormonal variations had a negative influence on their wellbeing. Sixty-one percent said skin issues may be present or worsen at certain times during their cycle, and 75 percent said skin problems are present or worsen during their periods.

“Hormonal impacts are very essential, and so they are little studied,” said Cohen-Welgryn. “What we wish is to step change that, and to bring our contribution and our knowledge of that subject.”

It involves working with other dermatologists on find out how to mitigate the problems that surfaced within the two studies.

To that end, L’Oréal has teamed with the International League of Dermatological Studies and WDC to award five dermatologists a grant of 20,000 euros each to work on access to skin health. That is the fourth time the grants have been given.

The dermatologists concentrate on prevention, education or improving quality of life and wellbeing.

“They [can] also work on access to skin health in distant areas,” said Cohen-Welgryn. “The thought is to reward dermatologists who’re paving the approach to make this dream a reality.”

Laureates included Marlous Grijsen, who’s improving access to skincare via teledermatology in eastern Indonesia. Wendemagegn Enbiale Yeshaneh is bettering access to services for patients with podoconiosis, a type of elephantiasis, and cutaneous leishmaniasis, a skin infection brought on by sand flies, within the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

L’Oréal’s Dermatological Beauty Division also goals to present people access to skin health through inexpensive products and benevolent activities and programs.

On the congress, CeraVe has unveiled “Take care of All,” a brand cause geared toward providing access to dermatological care in underserved communities worldwide. For that project, CeraVe is collaborating with Gloderm, the International Alliance of Global Health Dermatology, to codevelop a mentorship program that trains dermatologists to higher skin health access. 

The goal is to coach, support and empower 100,000 dermatology healthcare professionals by 2030.

One other approach to democratize skin health is thru telemedicine, or medical care provided remotely using voice and visual communications.

“That may be a potential key element to scale back the barrier to care,” said Cohen-Welgryn. “You furthermore mght have smart services that allow for skin diagnosis and to enhance the observance of treatment.”