Space dermatology: a specialty in evolution.

Abstract

The last thirty years have demonstrated the ability of humans to survive both brief and prolonged durations of microgravity in the unique environment of space. The maintenance of health and well-being during spaceflight has been the focus of physicians and health care personnel involved in space medicine. It follows that dermatology will become a defined component of space medicine, as skin-related physiology and subsequent disorders are elucidated and as health maintenance protocols are developed. This information will become part of the core of what can be called space dermatology.