Prevalence and Patterns of Dermatological Diseases in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Population: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Objective: To determine the frequency and types of dermatological conditions including sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Dermatology, Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from 19 April to 20 May 2023.

Methodology: The survey was conducted on members of the LGBTQ community registered with Fountain House, Lahore, aged 18 years and above. Data on demographics, sexual orientation, hormone use, gender-affirming procedures, chronic hepatitis, and STIs and dermatological findings were collected using a structured questionnaire.

Results: Among the 143 LGBTQ individuals who participated, the average age was 53.29 ± 10.85 years. Most participants (84.6%) were transwomen while 15.4% were transmen. Regarding sexual orientation, 67.1% selected themselves as gay, 16.1% as bisexual, 1.4% as lesbian, 0.7% as hetero-sexual, and 14.7% chose not to disclose. Dermatological findings were observed in 94 (64%), among which androgenic alopecia (18.18%), generalised xerosis / atopic eczema (11.19%), melisma (4.20%) and infections such as scabies (11.19%), and 52 (36%) did not have any skin disease. For gender affirmation, 2.1% underwent hormonal therapies and 7.69% adopted surgical procedures.

Conclusion: The LGBTQ community suffers from many dermatological problems such as androgenic alopecia, atopic eczema, melasma and infections that need to be addressed. Hence training of doctors to cater for the dermatological concerns of this community is important.

Key Words: LGBTQ, Transgender skin diseases, Gender affirming procedures, Gender dermatology.