Evaluation of skin problems

Travelers frequently return to North America with noninfectious skin problems. However, the physician who evaluates a returning traveler or immigrant with cutaneous abnormalities must also consider the possibility of infection. Attention should be paid to the nature of the skin lesions, the presence or absence of systemic manifestations, and the details of the travel history, e.g., geographic sites visited, duration of travel, activities, and prophylactic medications. This article highlights the conditions most likely to be encountered among typical immunocompetent North American travelers.