Yogyakarta- Tropical dermatology is a medical science which especially studies about skin diseases that are found in and come from tropical regions. This disease is not only found in tropical countries but also in developed countries because of globalization and people mobility. Meanwhile, most tropical skin diseases are infectious and some are allergic diseases due to the influence of climate and environment.
A skin health expert of Faculty of Medicine UGM, Prof. Dr. dr. Hardyanto Soebono, Sp.KK(K), explained that Indonesia is a big tropical country which has extraordinary diversity in terms of demography, economy and environment. Thus, description of skin diseases also varies. On the other hand, the Netherlands is a developed and open country so there are many immigrants there from many countries.
“Therefore, many tropical diseases including skin disease are carried by the immigrants, then becoming imported disease,” Hardyanto explained on Monday (4/4) at the Faculty.
“Approximately, more than 18 dermatology experts from Indonesia and 18 experts from Netherlands will attend the event for three days, 7-9 April in Yogyakarta,” Hardyanto who is also Committee Chairman of this event said. Meanwhile, the number of participants is more than 250 people.
He gave an example that several tropical skin diseases that are often found such as scabies eczema, fungi, acne, and bacterial infection to lepra. Especially for lepra, some regions in Indonesia such as East Java, South Sulawesi, Papua and Moluccas, have high prevalence. Hardyanto admitted that currently there is change of skin problem. Formerly there were more problems caused by infections, now they are caused by cosmetics and etc. Meanwhile, environmental cleanliness still dominates the cause of skin diseases.
“Formerly, there was a survey that 46% of residents experience skin problems such as acne but the trend has changed today to skin disease due to cosmetics use, etc,” Hardyanto said.