How dermatologists can address the structural and social determinants of health—from awareness to action

A patient’s social needs are the “elephant in the room” of many dermatology visits. Dermatologists’ awareness of the structural and social determinants of health—eg, housing instability, transportation barriers, lack of health insurance—has increased substantially from the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. A renewed energy and focus by physician organizations, health care systems, public health agencies, policy makers, and regulators on health inequity presents an opportunity for dermatologists to reconsider how they may participate in addressing patients’ social needs. Understandably, it can feel daunting to transition from awareness to action. In this Viewpoint, we underscore the role of structural and social determinants of health in dermatology and present examples of activities that dermatologists can engage in, as clinicians, advocates, researchers, and educators.