Dermatologic care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons
March 2019
in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”
TLDR LGBT individuals have unique skin health needs, including higher STD risks and side effects from gender-affirming treatments, requiring dermatologists to offer knowledgeable and culturally competent care.
The document from 2019 addresses the specific dermatologic health concerns and disparities among LGBT individuals, with a focus on MSM, WSW, and transgender patients. It outlines the increased risk of infectious diseases like HIV, syphilis, and other STDs in MSM, as well as non-infectious conditions such as skin cancer, and stresses the need for tailored screening and preventive care. WSW are noted to have disparities in STDs, and the importance of safer sex practices is emphasized. For transgender patients, the document discusses the dermatologic implications of hormonal therapy and gender-affirming surgery, including the management of side effects like acne and alopecia. A case series mentioned in the document showed that 10 transgender men with grade IV alopecia treated with finasteride 1 mg daily experienced a 1-grade improvement in an average of 5.5 months. The document also addresses the side effects of practices like chest binding in transgender men and the challenges of facial hair removal in transgender women. It concludes with a call for dermatologists to be knowledgeable about LGBT health issues and to provide culturally competent care.
View this study on jaad.org →
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