The seventh of the “Family Medicine Dermatology School” event, organized annually by Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine for family physicians and dermatology residents, was held on April 12, 2025 at the Central Library Ziraat Bank Hall. In the training program organized to contribute to the professional development of family physicians and dermatology assistants working in primary health care services, the diagnosis and treatment approaches of the most common skin diseases were discussed in depth by academicians specialized in dermatology and family medicine.
Delivering the opening speech of the event, Prof. Dr. Sadrettin Pençe, Dean of Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, stated that they care about and always support the departments to carry out such scientific organizations. Touching on the current situation of the faculty in his speech, Prof. Dr. Pençe said, “We currently have 1200 students in our Faculty of Medicine. Together with 850 hospitals and research assistants, we have more than 200 faculty members. We provide active clinical services at Göztepe Süleyman Yalçın City Hospital, which we are affiliated with.”
After the opening ceremony, the event continued with scientific sessions held simultaneously in two halls. In the “Infections” session chaired by Dr. Mehmet Sargın, Dr. Mehmet Salih Gürel discussed bacterial, viral and fungal skin infections in detail through case examples. In this session, the differential diagnosis and treatment algorithms of common diseases such as impetigo, dermatophyte infections and viral exanthems were emphasized. In the “Itching” session led by Dr. Berrin Telatar, Dr. Aslı Erdemir evaluated the common causes of itching in dermatological practice with clinical observations. In this session, the differences between systemic and dermatological causes of pruritus were explained and the importance of patient-centered individualized methods in treatment approaches was emphasized.
In the concurrent sessions, itchy skin diseases were discussed in detail by Dr. Reşat Dabak and Dr. Can Öner, while infections were discussed by Dr. Zeynep Vural. In both halls, clinical presentations were case-based and controversial cases were evaluated with interactive participation.
In the “Rational Drug Use” presentation made by Prof. Dr. Hacer Hicran Mutlu, the issues to be considered in drug selection, especially in topical and systemic treatment options, and warnings about antibiotic resistance came to the fore. It was emphasized that rational drug use within the framework of the principle of protection of public health and sustainability in health is of great importance for public health as well as individual treatment success.
Diseases of skin appendages such as hair, nails and sweat glands were discussed in the 4th sessions titled “Skin Appendages” held simultaneously. In the sessions chaired by Dr. Güzin Zeren Öztürk, Dr. Mehmet Taşkın Eğici and Dr. İlknur Gökaya, Dr. Ozan Erdem and Dr. Melek Aslan Kayıran shared current diagnosis and treatment methods in many areas from nail fungus to hair loss.
“Common Dermatoses: Psoriasis, Lichen, Rosacea and Basic Skin Care”, dermatologic diseases frequently encountered especially in primary care were discussed comprehensively. In the sessions chaired by Dr. Esin Engin Şimşek and Dr. Murat Altuntaş, Dr. Gaye Eser Koku Aksu and Dr. Ayşe Eser Koku Aksu discussed chronic dermatological conditions such as psoriasis, lichen planus and rosacea through case examples. In addition, both the preventive and therapeutic effects of basic skin care in dermatoses were emphasized.
In the last sessions of the event, topical and systemic treatments applied in dermatologic diseases were discussed under the title of “Treatment”. In the sessions chaired by Dr. Hasan Hüseyin Mutlu and Dr. Yalçın Hacımustafaoğlu, Dr. Ozan Erdem, Dr. Hacer Hicran Mutlu and Dr. Mehmet Salih Gürel informed the participants about effective treatment principles, patient compliance, pharmacological properties of drugs and side effect profiles.
At the 7th Family Medicine Dermatology School, which offers an important professional development platform and a free vocational training opportunity for healthcare professionals working in the field of family medicine and dermatology, participants were equipped with up-to-date information on dermatological diseases, while the training process was enriched with case examples, clinical practices and interactive presentations.
