Teledermatology trends during two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic – Experience from western Rajasthan

the "first wave") and February 2021 and June 2021 (the "second wave").As ambulatory clinics were forced to suspend or restrict inperson visits due to the COVID-19 outbreak, teledermatology has offered essential dermatological therapy. [1,2]In fact, the government of India dedicated many nationally funded programs for telemedicine to ensure smooth delivery of health services amidst the pandemic. [3]he need for this study arose from the significant shift toward teledermatology during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during periods when in-person clinical visits were restricted.This shift was not just a temporary adjustment but possibly a long-term change in how dermatological care is delivered.The rationale behind conducting this study was to understand the shift in healthcare delivery during the pandemic, evaluate patient demographics and access, and analyze the clinical outcomes.This study aimed to assess the variations in the pattern of teledermatology consultations during the two waves.From May through August 2020 (the peak of the first wave) and March 2021 to June 2021 (the peak of the second wave), we gathered all adult teledermatology visits that our department attended.This covers the duration during which all the inperson non-urgent visits to the dermatology outpatient department were prohibited and a staggered reinstatement of the dermatology outpatient department.Based on the primary diagnosis, teledermatology visits for each month were totalled and categorized for both waves.The demographic characteristics of patients differed during the two waves of the pandemic [Table 1].While younger patients (18-35 years) from the urban region (75.2%) were the most common groups to opt for teledermatology visits during the first wave, in the second wave, there was a higher proportion of elderly patients (46-75 years) from the rural