Millions of Nigerians are living with preventable and treatable skin diseases due to poor awareness and delayed access to specialist care, the Chief Medical Director of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Professor Chizindu Alikor, has said.
Alikor made the disclosure during a one-day workshop on the recognition and management of skin diseases held to commemorate the 2026 World Skin Health Day in Port Harcourt. The event was organised by RSUTH in collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists, Rivers and Bayelsa States.
Speaking on the theme, “Better Knowledge, Better Skin Health,” Alikor stressed that the skin, as the body’s largest organ and first line of defence against diseases and environmental hazards, deserves the same attention as every other vital organ.
He noted that beyond the physical effects, skin diseases often have emotional, psychological and social consequences, including stigma, low self-esteem, reduced productivity and poor quality of life.
According to him, conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, fungal infections, dermatitis, vitiligo, skin cancers, chronic wounds and other skin manifestations of systemic illnesses continue to affect millions of people.
The RSUTH Chief Medical Director reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to providing comprehensive dermatological services through specialist consultations, advanced diagnostics, research, training and public health awareness campaigns.
Alikor also called for stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and community leaders to improve access to quality skin healthcare and promote early detection and prevention of skin diseases.
In his lecture titled, “Recognise, Treat, Prevent: Neglected Skin NTDs – Leprosy, Scabies and Pediculosis Capitis,” President of the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists and Professor of Medicine/Dermatology at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Professor Dasetima Altraide, warned Nigerians against seeking treatment from unqualified skin care practitioners.
He lamented the growing trend of quacks posing as dermatologists, particularly in aesthetic medicine, noting that many patients present at hospitals only after their conditions have significantly deteriorated.
Altraide disclosed that Rivers State currently has only eight qualified dermatologists four at RSUTH and four at UPTH with four additional specialists undergoing training.
He urged members of the public to seek professional medical advice rather than rely on social media influencers and unverified skincare products.
The dermatologist also called for the full implementation of regulations governing cosmetic practice to curb the activities of unqualified practitioners.
On leprosy, Altraide dispelled common misconceptions, stressing that the disease is curable with multi-drug therapy and is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, not by cockroaches as widely believed.
He advised Nigerians to consult qualified dermatologists for proper diagnosis and treatment of suspected skin diseases instead of relying on myths or self-medication.
