b'Atopic Dermatitis, Other Skin Issues Are Challenging for U.S. MilitaryNEWARK, NJMilitary servicemembers oftencommonly used in the general population areexposedtodrasticclimates,environments,may have implications for military duties andlivingconditionswhichmaymakethemthat should be considered before treatment more susceptible to cutaneous diseases, accord- initiation in soldiers.ing to a new study. Skin diseases often lead to evacuation of mili-Researchers from Rutgers New Jersey Medicaltarypersonnelfromcombattheaterandaffect School and Weill Cornell Medicine in New Yorksoldiertrainingandmorale,theresearchers said that is a serious concern for the about 1.2 mil- explained. Cutaneous disease related disruptions lion active-duty members and 780,000 reservistsin the military not only hinder military operations in the U.S. forces. but are also associated with high financial costs. In ThestudyteamconductedaPubMedsearcha study on teledermatology consults of deployed of studies published between Jan. 1, 2002, andU.S. soldiers in Iraq 1/20051/2009, the cost of Aug. 30, 2022. evacuating soldiers back to the US was estimated In an article in Annals of Medicine, the authorsat $562,380 and the cost of in-person dermatology reviewed skin conditions that affect military sol- evaluations in Iraq was $416,000.diers in both the deployed and nondeployed set- Among the challenges of treating skin condi-tings. Those included infectious diseases, arthro- tionsindeployedsoldiersincludeslowturn-pod-associateddiseases,sexuallytransmittedaroundtimeforpathologyspecimens,lackof infections, ultraviolet radiation related skin disease,access to dermatological care, and arranging fol-acne, diseases of hair and hair follicles, dermatitis,low up care, they added.onychocryptosis, and conditions caused by extremeThe report specifically addressed atopic derma-weatherconditionsandoccupationalexposures.titis, noting Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (AD) Treatment options and prevention methods also areafter the 12th birthday is a disqualifying medical discussed in terms of military settings. 1 criterion for enlistment in the US military, though Dermatologicalconditionscanconsiderablymildandwellcontrolledcasesoftenreceivea impactsoldierswellbeingandmilitaryperfor- waiver. AD often flares in soldiers [6], and corre-mance, often lead to evacuation of military person- lates with stress levels experienced in the military.nel, and are associated with high financial costs,The authors pointed out that mortality from skin the study noted. Cutaneous disease is one of mostdisease in military personnel is low, but dermato-common reasons for soldiers to seek medical carelogic conditions in the military setting make up and may cause significant morbidity. Serving in thea proportion of servicemember morbidity. In a military often impacts and limits treatment options. review of skin conditions in military peacekeeping Theresearchersprovidedtwokeypiecesofoperations, military physician visits for skin condi-advice for healthcare providers:tions ranged from 9.3% (during the Gulf war) to 1.Military soldiers are a unique population25.2% (in an East Timor deployment), they wrote. exposed to crowded living conditions,In U.S. soldiers specifically, 10% (429,837 cases) reduced opportunity for personal hygiene,of deployed setting medical diagnoses 2008-2015, environmental contamination, strict groomingwere dermatological.practices, and skin injury which may contribute1Singal A, Lipner SR. A review of skin disease in mili-to infectious and arthropod-associated skin,tary soldiers: challenges and potential solutions. Ann Med. hair, and nail diseases in soldiers. 2023;55(2):2267425. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2267425. 2.Treatment options for skin diseases that areEpub 2023 Oct 16. PMID: 37844200; PMCID: PMC10580865.47'