MONTREAL - Canada is facing a looming shortage of dermatologists as skin cancer rates continue to rise, doctors warned Sunday.
Dr. John Toole, president of the Canadain Dermatology Association, said only between 600 and 700 dermatologists are available to treat the country's population of more than 30 million.
Toole told reporters at the association's annual conference, which runs through Wednesday, that patients with chronic skin diseases are increasingly being frustrated in their efforts to get expert dermatological care and access to new innovative treatment.
Canadian dermatologists have been at the forefront of innovating treatment for skin cancer, psoriasis, and eczema, he said.
"We now see many of these innovations and discoveries coming to the market," he said. "And yet we're finding that our patients don't have access to these medications."
He said the rising rates of skin cancer and an aging population are placing increased demands on dermatologists.
"Our concern is that we are just not going to have enough determatologists in this country to meet demands," he said. "I think this relates back to the '90s when there was a cutback on the training of all doctors and all sub-specialists."
He said while the problem is recognized, it is not being addressed in a significant way.
Toole said part of the problem is that it takes years for someone to complete training in dermatology.
"The bottom-line answer is to open up more medical school spots and then more residency spots in dermatology," he said.
About 50 per cent of the association's members are 55 years old or older.
"We can expect that, in spite of the increasing demands (for dermatologists), that a lot of these doctors are going to be retiring or cutting back on their workload," he said.
Toole's comments came as dermatologists continue to warn Canadians to be more careful when out in the sun.
They estimate that 73,000 new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed across Canada this year, with 4,600 of those being melanoma -- the most deadly of the skin cancers. It killed 910 people in Canada in 2007.
Excessive exposure to the sun's ultaviolet rays is considered the biggest factor in the increased rate of skin cancer.
"Despite preventive measures, the incidence of skin cancer continues to climb year after year," said Dr. Joel Claveau, regional director of the association's sun awareness program.
He said with so many cloudy days, people seem anxious to drink in the sun when it appears and don't take basic precautions.
These include limiting exposure to the sun to between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., wearing a hat, applying at least SPF 30 sunscreen and lip balm 30 minutes before being exposed to the sun, and staying in the shade as much as possible.
Dr. Cheryl Rosen, also of the sun awareness program, said prevention is key to fighting melanoma.
"We're not saying don't have fun out in the sun," she said. "Go kayaking, play tennis but protect yourself."
She noted that there are people who are at greater risk, such as those with fair skin, red or blond hair and blue eyes. Others include organ transplant recipients and people with a family history of cancer.
Melanoma rates have increased by about two per cent per year and Rosen said she doesn't believe the numbers are up because it's being detected more.
"I think there's a tendency to minimize skin cancer and its effect on people who have it," she said, although she pointed out some cancerous lesions on the face can leave scars and other types can also reoccur.
Rosen said one of the challenges is changing people's behaviour to get them away from the idea that tans make them look healthy and sexy. She said people have to realize that a tan is an indication of harm to the skin.
"The interesting thing in the population is that there really seems to be a disconnect between wanting to be tanned and not wanting to be wrinkled," she said. "They're both caused by the same thing."
