Abstract
Dermatology has had a long and close relationship with sexually transmitted infections with the majority having dermatological manifestations. This article reviews the epidemiology of common and significant sexually transmitted infections and is then followed by a weighing up of the many pros and cons of syndromic disease therapy, widely used in developing countries. Sexually transmitted infection control and sex education efforts, in both the USA and worldwide, highlight the continuing significance of these diseases on our lives and society, with the failures as meaningful as the successes.