Rethinking dermatology’s access crisis

Dr. Rachel Day writes in Healio that dermatology’s access crisis isn’t just a supply problem; it’s a mismatch between how care is delivered and what chronic skin conditions need.

Dermatology’s access crisis has reached a breaking point. Average wait times for a new dermatology appointment continue to climb year over year, and a viral social media trend about the “7.9-second dermatology appointment” has put public attention squarely on just how strained the system has become. While a shortage of dermatologists is often cited as the cause, the picture is more complicated: demand for cosmetic and cash-pay procedures has reshaped how limited specialist capacity actually gets used.

Beyond the headlines, the situation raises a harder question: can simply adding more dermatologists fix a system that wasn’t built to prioritize the patients who need ongoing, longitudinal care in the first place?

In a new byline for Healio, a news outlet for physicians and healthcare professionals, Dr. Rachel Day, Zest Health’s Chief Medical Officer, argues that the answer lies in rethinking when, where, and how dermatology care gets delivered, not just who delivers it.

Read the full article for Dr. Day’s perspective on building a more intentional, outcomes-driven model for dermatology care.