Dermatologic Care of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community of India

September 2022 in “ Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology ”

Surya Ravindran, Mohamed Nazeer, S Criton

facial hair androgenetic alopecia scars gender-affirming surgeries skin damage topical steroids laser hair removal dermatologist gender-affirming hormones hair loss surgical scars hormone therapy

TLDR The transgender community in India has specific skin care needs and struggles to access dermatological services due to discrimination and financial issues.

The study surveyed 51 transgender individuals in India, with 94% being trans women, to identify their dermatological concerns. Common issues included facial hair, androgenetic alopecia, scars from gender-affirming surgeries, and skin damage from topical steroids. Laser hair removal was the most common dermatological procedure. Only 21.7% of participants had consulted a dermatologist, often due to fear of discrimination, surgical scars, or low income. Androgenetic alopecia was a significant issue, likely due to the impact of gender-affirming hormones. The study concluded that the transgender community in India has unique dermatological needs and faces barriers to accessing care. It suggests enhancing dermatology training programs and establishing transgender clinics to address these needs.

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