Aldo Morrone (editor) - Skin Disorders in Migrants

This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland

Skin diseases are among the commonest of medical conditions affecting all populations and societies. Their prevalence and nature are often subject to local variations, such as social and environmental conditions. For instance, living conditions that involve severe household overcrowding and limited access to water and washing facilities favor the development of skin infections. Among migrants and mobile populations skin conditions are prevalent challenges to health. This is, in part, due to the immediate effects of travel and low-quality accommodation, but many other factors contribute to the picture. These include exposure to varying and extreme environmental conditions including severe sun exposure. Skin diseases endemic in their place of origin may also present in a new country or environment, causing both clinical confusion and the risk of wrong diagnosis. Skin problems also contribute massively to the loss of self-esteem, so often experienced by migrants and this may be compounded if there is also discrimination and prejudice directed against them in their new environment, on account of a visible skin abnormality. Overcrowding may also foster the spread of some infections, such as scabies, simply due to close contact.

Addressing these issues is an important challenge for dermatologists in all countries, as there are few parts of the world that are exempt from population mobility often with the movement of large numbers in desperate circumstances. The purpose of this book is to relate the problem, to highlight the risk of stigma and discrimination, and to bring the potential treatment solutions to the attention of a wider audience. We would like to thank all the contributors who have helped to make this work a comprehensive account of skin health among migrants for the ultimate benefit of mobile populations as our patients.