PS46 Queer women and the dermatologist; an evaluation of communication

Abstract

It is known that LGBTQ+ individuals experience high rates of mental health concerns, discrimination and healthcare disparities across their lifetime. With increasing numbers of individuals in this cohort it is becoming increasingly important to raise awareness and deepen knowledge on specific dermatological issues that queer individuals may experience. The aim of this study was to evaluate perceived experiences and satisfaction of queer women when interacting with a dermatologist within the UK. A 10-question survey was distributed to women who identified as LGBTQ+. The survey was restricted to women living in the UK who had previously experienced visiting a dermatologist. The survey included both multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Information gathered from participants included demographics and the perceived importance of sexual orientation during a dermatology consultation. We also asked open-ended questions regarding their opinions on the dermatologists’ knowledge of LGBTQ+ topics and what they believe is important for the dermatologist to be aware of. Our abstract is a preliminary submission as we are currently gathering responses. We aim to gather a minimum of 50 responses and present these results at the BAD conference in July 2026. We are confident we will have interesting results to discuss in this underexplored subsection of dermatology.