Dermatology Care in Rural Communities: What Patients Should Know
- Skin Cancer Champions
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
If you live in a rural area, you probably already know that getting in to see a dermatologist is not easy. The nearest one might be hours away, wait times can stretch for months, and fitting an appointment into a working day is its own challenge. This is not unusual. It is the reality for roughly one in five Americans.
Why Dermatologists Are Hard to Find
Dermatologists are concentrated in cities. About 60% of U.S. counties do not have enough dermatologists relative to their population. To put that in concrete terms: Wyoming has fewer than five Mohs surgeons in the entire state. A single hospital department in New England might have that many on staff.
That gap means many rural patients are not skipping skin checks by choice. The option simply is not close by.
What That Means for Skin Health
A lot of rural work happens outdoors. Farming, construction, mining. That means more cumulative UV exposure over a lifetime, which raises skin cancer risk. When dermatology access is limited, skin changes can go longer without being evaluated, and that delay can affect outcomes.
This is not about blame. It is a structural problem, and it affects entire communities.
What You Can Do
Talk to your primary care provider. Many PCPs can evaluate skin concerns and perform biopsies. They can start a workup and coordinate with a dermatologist for follow-up.
Check your own skin monthly. After a shower, look for new spots or anything that has changed. Photos are useful for tracking things over time, both for you and for your doctor.
Look into teledermatology. Virtual visits and image-based consultations are becoming more widely available. They will not replace every in-person visit, but they can reduce unnecessary trips.
Stack your appointments. When you do travel for care, try to schedule multiple visits on the same day. It is a common strategy for rural patients and worth coordinating with your providers.
Looking Ahead
Medical training programs and advocacy groups are working on this problem, pushing for rural residency tracks, satellite clinics, and better physician recruitment in underserved areas. Progress is slow, but it is happening.
In the meantime, the steps above can help you catch problems earlier, even without a dermatologist down the road.
A Deeper Resource for Patients and Caregivers
It’s completely normal to feel anxious before Mohs surgery. Many patients find that the waiting between stages is the most unexpected part of the experience. Knowing this in advance can help set expectations and reduce stress.
You’re Not Alone in This Process
This article is based on research and content authored by Caroline Mortelliti.
For a more detailed look at rural dermatology access, including how to perform a thorough self-skin exam, how to find teledermatology services, and how to plan multi-appointment travel days, visit our Education Hub.
