France Faces a Dermatology Desert: Skin Cancer Risks Rise as Specialist Shortage Deepens
Access to dermatological care in France is rapidly becoming a critical healthcare challenge, with potentially dire consequences for early cancer detection and treatment. A dwindling number of specialists, coupled with uneven geographic distribution and increasing demand, is leaving millions struggling to secure timely appointments, raising alarm among medical professionals and patient advocacy groups.
A Growing Crisis in Skin Care Access
France will have approximately 2,880 practicing dermatologists in 2024, representing a density of just 3.3 to 3.6 dermatologists per 100,000 inhabitants – a figure far below what is needed to adequately serve the population. The situation is particularly acute in rural areas, where some departments currently have no installed dermatologist at all. This scarcity is not a new development, but a deepening crisis, according to learned societies and unions of dermatologists who have been voicing their concerns since 2024-2025.
“The shortage is no longer an accident, it is an established and structural crisis,” affirmed a representative of a leading dermatology organization.
The Numbers Tell a Stark Story
The decline in dermatologists is alarming. In 2007, France had around 3,542 active dermatologists. Less than two decades later, the discipline has lost between 15 and 20% of its workforce. This loss is driven, in part, by the aging of the profession, with almost 30-40% of practitioners over the age of 55-60 and planning to retire in the coming years. The lack of new specialists entering the field is failing to offset these retirements, creating a widening gap in care.
The impact on patients is significant. In 2023, a staggering 73% of French people reported finding access to a dermatologist “difficult.” The average waiting time for a consultation has more than doubled in the past decade, jumping from 41 days in 2012 to around 104 days in 2023. For many, an appointment never materializes, with nearly half of patients giving up on seeking care due to delays, distance, or outright refusal of new patients. Those who persevere often face waits of six to nine months, or even longer – a potentially devastating delay when monitoring a suspicious mole or dermatological outbreak.
Imbalance of Supply and Demand
Several factors contribute to this escalating crisis. Training programs are not producing enough new dermatologists to replace those retiring. A preference among young dermatologists for settling in urban areas, offering better quality of life and working conditions, exacerbates the problem, leaving rural communities underserved. Simultaneously, demand for dermatological services is increasing due to an aging population, a rise in skin cancers – with 17,922 new cases of cutaneous melanoma reported in 2023 (9,109 in men and 8,813 in women) – and a growing prevalence of inflammatory skin diseases.
Furthermore, a persistent misconception that dermatology primarily focuses on aesthetic procedures undermines the profession’s vital medical role, including melanoma screening, management of chronic dermatoses, and monitoring of suspicious lesions.
The Consequences for Patient Health
The lack of access to dermatologists has serious implications for public health. Early detection is crucial in treating melanoma effectively; delays can transform a treatable cancer into a formidable one. Similarly, conditions like psoriasis and eczema require regular monitoring to prevent severe flare-ups. When appointments are scarce, preventative care falters, and patients may postpone seeking help, leading to complications, heavier care requirements, and diminished quality of life – including persistent itching, pain, and visible scarring.
The inequalities in access are stark. Wait times can range from two weeks in well-served urban centers to six months or more in rural areas, creating a two-tiered system of care.
Calls for Action and Patient Empowerment
The French Society of Dermatology is urging the State to take swift action to avert further deterioration of the healthcare system. Proposed solutions include increasing the number of dermatology interns, incentivizing practice in rural areas, strengthening collaboration between general practitioners, pharmacists, and specialists, and organizing coordinated care teams. However, concerns remain about the potential for aesthetic medicine to overshadow essential medical care and the risks associated with unregulated commercial platforms.
While systemic changes are underway, patients are not entirely powerless. Self-monitoring remains a valuable tool, encouraging individuals to regularly observe their moles and report any changes in shape, color, or persistence. The national YES, I CAN campaign, launched in 2025 by the French Society of Dermatology, promotes this proactive approach to skin health. In areas lacking dermatologists, general practitioners and trained pharmacists can provide initial support and referrals.
