Dermatology 2.0- How the Internet is Changing us, our Patients and our Practice

The internet, in a short span of time relative to the history of modern medicine, has changed us doctors, our patients and our practice. This article reviews these changes and how they have occurred. The write- up was conceptualized after the authors started noticing subtle and overt differences in the consultation and treatment paths of patients who were internet savvy vs. those who were internet naïve. A survey was conducted in the clinic to understand the behavioral changes brought about by the internet among patients of clinical as well as aesthetic dermatology. It must be remembered that these changes are completely new to the practice of dermatology; even small numbers of positive replies are noteworthy. The Covid 19 pandemic has made teledermatology a requisite of the time, rather than an option. Our dependence on technology has never before been so profound. As modern-day dermatologists, we need to be updated about the interactions of dermatology and technology. We must constantly try to optimize the benefits of the internet and minimize its pitfalls. Needless to say, most of the facts mentioned here have been gleaned from the internet itself, from a wide range of sources including but not limited to medical journals, books, news reports, commercial websites and magazines.