Climate change, harmful algal blooms, and cutaneous disease

<h2>Abstract</h2> Climate change is known to exacerbate dermatologic disease. However, a gap in the literature exists on the interplay between climate change, harmful algal blooms caused by cyanobacteria, and cutaneous disease. This review aimed to understand how climate change affects cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms and the effects of these blooms on skin health. Peer-reviewed and gray literature were identified in PubMed, Scopus, and Google using keywords related to cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, blue-green algae, algal blooms, skin health, climate change, skin health, rash, dermatitis, skin disease, cutaneous disease, hypersensitivity, and atopic dermatitis. Climate change and environmental impacts affect abiotic factors that promote cyanobacterial proliferation in marine ecosystems. Following exposure to cyanotoxins, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis may occur. Epidemiologic studies have also noted a correlation between cyanotoxin-contaminated water exposure and melanoma incidence, although further research is needed to fully understand this link between cyanobacteria and cutaneous malignancy. Importantly, because climate change continues to promote the formation of harmful algal blooms, dermatologists should consider cyanobacterial exposure in the differential diagnosis of dermatoses in patients with recent recreational or occupational marine exposures.