Skin deep dive

More than half the UK population will experience a skin condition at some point in their lives.

For many, these are debilitating diseases that can impact quality of life, mental health and daily functioning.

Yet despite scientific advances in dermatology, a widening gap has emerged between innovation and access to care.

Patients continue to encounter long waiting times, limited specialist capacity and systemic pressures that prevent them from receiving the care they need, when they need it.

Data from earlier this year shows that waiting times to receive treatment across NHS dermatology departments in England have worsened since the pandemic.

43% of patients wait longer than the NHS 18-week target and around 9,000 patients face delays of a year or more before seeing a specialist.

Delays not only carry the risk of compromising patient outcomes and quality of life, but they also place immense pressure on NHS resources.

Annually, skin conditions cost the NHS £723 million and primary care is under particular strain. Each year, dermatology-related patient concerns account for approximately 13 million GP appointments, which is around 20% of a GP’s entire workload.

While these figures are concerning, behind each of these numbers is a person navigating not just the physical burden of their condition, but the impact on their mental health, self-confidence and trust in the healthcare system.

Taking the example of chronic hand eczema (CHE) alone, we know that around 70% of those with severe symptoms report difficulty in performing daily activities.
The personal economic impact is clear, with over half of patients saying CHE influenced their career choice.

Our mission has always been to advance the standard of care for people living with skin diseases.

However, alongside new innovative treatments, meeting the needs of patients requires collaboration, commitment and a readiness to address the systemic barriers that prevent patients from receiving the care they deserve.

Improving access to dermatology services in the UK requires a clear understanding of the systemic challenges faced, which have a particularly acute impact on patients living with skin conditions.

There is currently a national shortage of consultant dermatologists, with just 659 consultants across England working in the NHS.

This shortage has a ripple effect across the system, placing greater strain on GPs who often serve as the first point of contact for patients presenting with skin conditions.
Yet, many GPs face these challenges without the benefit of dedicated dermatology training.

Structural issues, such as a limited number of training posts, prioritisation of other specialties and resource constraints in the NHS, mean that dermatology teaching and hands-on training for medical students and GPs have suffered.

These workforce challenges are not spread equally. In the UK, access remains uneven, with significant variation in availability, quality and scope of care.

In some regions, patients face limited access to specialist-led services, while others benefit from more comprehensive provision.

This disparity can affect everything from waiting times to the availability of advanced diagnostic tools and treatment options.

We’re at a truly exciting time for treatment innovation. But innovation alone is not enough.

New treatments can’t deliver on their potential without timely diagnosis and a system equipped to deliver them to patients.

Delivering meaningful change in dermatology care calls for coordinated action across the healthcare ecosystem.

Industry, policymakers, commissioners, clinicians and patient organisations each have a role to play in strengthening the system and ensuring that innovation translates into meaningful patient outcomes.

This means investing in workforce development, redesigning care pathways and improving access to specialist advice, particularly in underserved regions.

We should be embracing technology where appropriate, such as tele-dermatology and digital triage tools, while also recognising that sustainable change depends on training, integration and commissioning models that reflect the true burden of skin disease.

We also need to recognise that one size does not fit all.

Health equity considerations are vital and digital exclusion is a factor that already prevents some patients, particularly those from lower socioeconomic groups, from finding the information they need.

It’s also important to note that although 10% of dermatology appointments involve people with brown or black skin, many clinicians still lack confidence or resources to diagnose or manage conditions that appear differently on darker skin.

To improve inclusivity and equitable outcomes in dermatology, there is a clear need for more dedicated training in treating people of colour to address gaps in clinician confidence and resources.

LEO Pharma is contributing to these efforts through partnerships with organisations like Allergy UK, aimed at supporting professional education and raising awareness of the real-world impact and cost of chronic skin conditions.

But these efforts must be part of a broader, system-wide movement.

The path forward requires a shared commitment: to redesign dermatology care with patients at the centre and ensure innovation translates into better outcomes.

Together, we can build a system capable of meeting both today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.

Leanne Walsh is General Manager and Vice President at LEO Pharma UK & Ireland