May 31, 2021

Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine: Thermal Tourism and Dermatology

Konstantinos Kouskoukis
Professor of Dermatology
Lawyer
B’ Vice President GDHI
President Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine
President World Academy of Chinese & Complimentary Medicine

Thermal Medicine had an empirical nature, but with the help of scientific documentation, thermal, mechanical, chemical action and especially the biological and immune action of metal ions, trace elements, rare gases, it emerged as a complementary holistic treatment in the following.

Psoriasis: external hydrotherapy, clay therapy and thalassotherapy benefit all forms of psoriasis as skin-absorbed hydrogen sulfide and radon have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory and keratolytic effects.

Endogenous dermatitis (atopic dermatitis – eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, localized neurodermatitis, dehydration dermatitis) and exogenous dermatitis (contact dermatitis, allergic, and / or toxic): and metabolism products.

Pruritus (torso, vulva nipple, anus nipple, genital, senile and due to chronic renal failure): itching is improved by taking a thermal bath or spraying with thermal water, due to hydration.

Acne and rosacea: their antimicrobial, keratolytic and antiseptic properties of sulfides exfoliate skin.

Icthyasis and scleroderma: external hydrotherapy improves the clinical symptoms of these skin conditions.

Lichen planus (smooth, hard and atrophic lichen): they infect the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and genitals, which is epithelialized by mouthwash or positherapy.

Aesthetic dermatology, skin surgery, dermabrasion, laser, hair implantation: thermal water in spray solution, helps in faster healing of the damage and in reducing the predisposition to scarring.

Thermal treatment lasts 21 days and works with specialized protocols making patients mandatory repeaters per semester and lasts only 20 minutes per day, providing unlimited time to the patient – tourist for experiential experiences of all thematic forms of quality and not quantitative 4 seasons of tourism in wonderful unique climate of Greece.

150,000 insured patients visit the thermal springs of our country, according to the European Directive 24/2011 and L4213 / 2013 on cross-border movement of patients, creating a turnover of 300,000,000 €. While the most optimistic talk about a turnover of 1 billion €, when the Global Health – Wellness tourism turnover amounted to 4.5 trillion dollars in 2018, gives perspective to our economy bleeding from the pandemic.

The recognition of Thermal Medicine as Complementary Medicine by the WHO is auspicious prospects. and the Plenary Session of KESY as well as the integration of thalassotherapy in it, challenging the entrepreneurs of 4 and 5-star coastal hotels to take advantage of the possibility of developing thalassotherapy centers with simple procedures, subsidized and financed by the Recovery Fund, the NSRF and the Development Law.