An expert meeting was held at the Acibadem Sistina Hospital premises organized by the hospital and the Association of Dermatovenerologists of Macedonia.

The meeting was opened by Andrej Petrov, MD specialist and full-time dermatovenerology professor, who presented the Department of Dermatovenerology. He highlighted state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities, the wide range of services, as well as the cutting-edge technology available to the department. The department provides accurate diagnosis, effective treatment and continuous support to patients supported by experienced specialists.

This was followed by a lecture from Kamelija Simeonova MD, specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry, who spoke about the role and challenges in working with children and their parents. She emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and continuous education, pointing out that the department actively organizes educational activities in order to strengthen and to promote mental health in young people. She also highlighted the connection between the skin and the brain, thus pointing out that they share a common biological basis since early development.

At the end of the meeting, a lecture was given by Mohamed Xhaferani, MD, PhD, a Professor of Psychodermatology and Psychiatry at Central Michigan University, USA and President of the Psychocutaneous Medicine Association of North America, on the topic of “Psychodermatology”.

 In his presentation, Prof. Xhaferani delved into this increasingly important medical field, thus explaining the complex and two-way relationship between the skin and mental health. He emphasized that numerous dermatological conditions cannot be fully understood and treated without taking into account the psychological aspect, with stress, anxiety and depression having a significant impact on their course.