'Learn to Derm' event at Wards 7 and 8: raising awareness in SE DC of 5 of the most common skin diseases

WASHINGTON — The GW School of Medicine, Howard University, and Georgetown School of Medicine, with the support of the GW Department of Dermatology and the Wards 7 and 8 Councils, held the 4th annual Summer Learn2Derm Skin Health Fair, Saturday, June 29, to raise awareness of the importance of taking care of our skin.

The event was attended by more than 100 people and aimed to educate "underserved regions of our nation's capital"—including Wards 7 and 8—about the right use of sunscreen and ways to prevent skin cancer by avoiding excessive sun exposure.

"There are multiple conditions that often go untreated due to lack of awareness or disease misconceptions, leading to severe disease that negatively impacts quality of life.", said the event organizers. 

Based on information provided by GW, these clinics minimize disparity in disease burden in people of color and with low income. Washington, D.C., is a city where the majority of adults are Black or African American, at approximately 227,000 residents per the 2022 estimate. According to the NIH, studies determined that "non-Hispanic Black people are often diagnosed with melanoma at later stages." and events like this one, help create consciousness to prevent tragedies. 

Learn to Derm provided guidance on eczema, acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, and hair loss; and by raising awareness of these five most common skin diseases, people can inform themselves about available treatment options and the risk of untreated disease. 

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