Try out PMC Labs and tell us what you think. Learn More. Urbanization, pollution and the modification of natural landscapes are characteristics of modern society, where the change in human relations with the environment and the impact on biodiversity are environmental determinants that affect the health-disease relationship.
The skin is an organ that has a strong interface with the environment and, therefore, the prevalence patterns of dermatoses may reflect these environmental changes. In this article, aspects related to deforestation, fires, urbanization, large-scale agriculture, extensive livestock farming, pollution and climatic changes are discussed regarding their influence on the epidemiology of skin diseases.
It is important that dermatologists be aware of their social responsibility in order to promote sustainable practices in their community, in addition to identifying the impacts of environmental imbalances on different dermatoses, which is essential for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Since its inception around thousand years ago, the history of Homo sapiens has comprised a strong interaction with the environment, especially from migrations outside Africa, where climatic, geographical and vegetation contingencies imposed adaptive pressures that resulted in much of the diversity of the species.
Therefore, environmental determinants have influenced both the evolution of the species and the health of humans. While the Homo sapiens species evolved, it intensively interacted with the environment, interfering in the health-disease relationship. Human hunter and gatherer groups such as Pygmies and Amerindian groups caused a discreet environmental impact, as they had a shorter life expectancy and were more exposed to environmental problems, such as accidents caused by animals, floods, infestations, zoonoses and dietary restrictions e.
From the moment Homo sapiens acquired a certain domain of agriculture, fishing and domestication of animals, they began to settle into territories, establishing the first population centers. This required greater use of natural resources and modification of the local environment. Thus, there was a gain in longevity, protection against natural hazards and the possibility of territorial expansion. With the development of industrialization and changes in the means of production, there have been demographic explosions, urbanization and migratory flows to urban areas.
