In an article published in NewBeauty, Anna Chacon, MD, a dermatologist who works with various health services across the United States—including the Native American Indian Health Services, the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium, and the Arctic Slope Native Association—detailed how she has utilized telehealth to deliver quality dermatologic care to indigenous patients who are often underserved and live in remote and rural areas. “Indigenous dermatology involves more than just diagnosing and treating skin [diseases]. There must be respect and understanding for their culture, as well as providing education and awareness of health-care inequalities that have existed for a long time,” explained Dr. Chacon. She revealed that indigenous patients may have a higher risk of experiencing eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions as a result of limited access to health care. “I’m … proud of the fact that I am licensed in 50 states and 3 U.S. territories and can see my patients anywhere. Everyone deserves high-quality care,” she underscored. Dr. Chacon concluded that she hopes her work can inspire others to help improve the burden of skin diseases as well as health disparities for indigenous populations across the country.
May 25, 2023