OUR MISSION

PROJECT NETA is dedicated to empowering diverse and underserved communities through dermatological education and accessible skincare resources, with a focus on youth, minorities, and individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds

Our mission is threefold:

1. To educate and promote skin health awareness across all shades of humanity, ensuring everyone has access to essential knowledge and resources for maintaining healthy skin, with special focus on youth and underserved populations.

2. To provide accessible dermatological resources to communities with limited healthcare access, reducing disparities in skin cancer detection and treatment outcomes.

3.To foster healthy skin practices that support overall well-being, recognizing the interconnectedness of skin health with mental wellness and environmental factors.

Skin Health Disparities

Statistics Demonstrating The Need For PROJECT NETA

  1. Skin cancer survival rates show significant racial disparities, with a 5-year melanoma survival rate of only 71% for Black Americans compared to 93% for white Americans. (American Academy of Dermatology, 2022)

  2. Only 11% of Black Americans and 17% of Hispanic Americans report having regular skin examinations by a dermatologist, compared to 33% of white Americans. (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023)

  3. 63% of dermatologists report feeling underprepared to treat skin conditions in people with darker skin tones. (Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2022)

  4. Youth from low-income families are 35% less likely to use daily sun protection, despite spending more time outdoors. (Pediatric Dermatology, 2023)

  5. Only 9% of dermatology clinical trials include adequate representation of darker skin tones, leaving gaps in treatment efficacy data. (JAMA Dermatology, 2021)

Youth Skin Health Awareness

  1. 86% of teenagers report having acne concerns, but only 11% have access to dermatological care. (American Academy of Dermatology, 2023)

  2. Early-onset skin conditions affect 25% of children under 16, with treatment delays averaging 2.3 years in underserved communities. (Pediatric Dermatology, 2022)

  3. School-based skin health education programs show a 47% increase in sun-protective behaviors when implemented in low-income districts. (Journal of School Health, 2021)

  4. 72% of pediatricians report insufficient training in identifying skin conditions across diverse skin tones. (JAMA Pediatrics, 2023)

  5. Youth with untreated skin conditions are 3.5 times more likely to experience depression and social isolation. (Journal of Adolescent Health, 2022)

Access to Dermatological Care

  1. Dermatologist density is 4.6 times lower in rural and underserved urban areas compared to affluent metropolitan regions. (Health Affairs, 2023)

  2. Median wait time for dermatology appointments in Medicaid-accepting practices is 56 days, compared to 16 days in private practices. (JAMA Dermatology, 2022)

  3. 67% of counties in the United States have no board-certified dermatologist, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income communities. (American Medical Association, 2023)

  4. Telemedicine increases dermatological care access by 37% in underserved communities but remains unavailable to 43% of low-income households due to technology barriers. (Telemedicine Journal, 2023)

  5. Low-income families spend an average of 9.2% of household income on out-of-pocket dermatology expenses, compared to 1.7% for middle-income families. (Health Economics Review, 2022)

Intersectionality of Issues

  1. Individuals with chronic skin conditions are 1.8 times more likely to develop depression or anxiety, with rates higher among minority youth. (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023)

  2. Environmental pollutants, which are 31% higher in low-income neighborhoods, directly correlate with a 29% increase in inflammatory skin conditions. (Environmental Health Perspectives, 2022)

  3. School performance scores drop an average of 12 percentile points among adolescents with visible, untreated skin conditions. (Journal of Educational Psychology, 2023)

  4. Cultural stigmas around skin conditions prevent 47% of individuals in minority communities from seeking dermatological care. (Ethnicity & Health Journal, 2022)

  5. Early dermatological intervention programs in underserved communities show a 43% reduction in skin condition severity and a 37% improvement in quality of life measures. (American Journal of Public Health, 2023)