Author Policies

1. Open Access Policy
The Open Access (OA) policy for the Dermatology – Open Journal ensures that all published research is freely accessible to the global research community without paywalls or subscription fees. This policy aligns with the journal's mission to promote the wide dissemination of high-quality research, enabling academics, clinicians, and practitioners to access the latest findings and innovations. Authors retain copyright over their work and grant the journal a license to publish and distribute their articles under a Creative Commons license, such as CC BY, allowing others to reuse and adapt the research while providing proper attribution. By adopting the OA model, the journal fosters transparency, collaboration, and the rapid sharing of innovations in dermatology. Open access is particularly important in the field of dermatology as it accelerates the adoption of new treatments and techniques that have practical applications in patient care.

2. Plagiarism Policy
The plagiarism policy of the Dermatology – Open Journal ensures that all published content is original, and that proper credit is given to the work of others. Authors are required to submit manuscripts that represent their own original research, and to appropriately cite all references, including prior research, methodologies, and clinical data. The journal uses plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin, to screen submissions for any potential instances of plagiarism or self-plagiarism. If any form of plagiarism is detected, the manuscript may be rejected, or an investigation may be launched. This policy ensures academic integrity and upholds the credibility of the journal. Authors found guilty of plagiarism may face retraction of their published work and a ban on future submissions. The goal is to maintain a high standard of scholarship and to foster a culture of honesty and transparency in dermatological research.

3. Copyright Policy
The copyright policy outlines the intellectual property rights associated with articles published in the journal. Authors generally retain copyright to their work upon publication, but they grant the journal a license to distribute, display, and share the work under open-access terms. Many dermatology journals encourage authors to select a Creative Commons license, such as CC BY, which allows the broader community to reuse and remix the work, provided proper attribution is given to the original author. This open-access model promotes the free exchange of ideas, fosters collaboration, and ensures that dermatological advancements can be easily accessed and applied across healthcare settings. Authors also retain the right to reuse their own work in other academic or professional contexts, such as in books or conference presentations. The copyright policy ensures clarity regarding the usage rights of published material while respecting the authors' intellectual contributions.

4. Rights and Grants to the Author
The "Rights and Grants to the Author" policy establishes the rights that authors retain after their work is published in the journal. Authors typically retain ownership of their article and the right to reuse the content for academic purposes, such as in future publications, presentations, or books. However, by submitting to the journal, authors grant the journal an exclusive or non-exclusive license to publish, distribute, and reproduce their work in all formats (print, digital, etc.). Authors are also encouraged to deposit their work in institutional repositories or personal websites, as long as proper attribution is maintained. In dermatology, this policy ensures that the research can be widely disseminated while protecting the author's intellectual property and allowing for reuse and further research.

5. Licensing Policy
The licensing policy defines how the journal allows others to use, share, and reuse published work. For dermatology journals, the most common licenses are those provided by Creative Commons (CC), such as the CC BY license, which allows anyone to reuse, remix, and redistribute the work as long as they give appropriate credit to the original author. The policy encourages authors to select open licenses to maximize the accessibility and utility of their research. The licensing policy is important because it allows the journal to legally distribute the work, ensures authors maintain recognition of their intellectual property, and promotes the wide dissemination of dermatology research. The journal also ensures that all third-party content, such as data, images, and figures, is used with the appropriate permissions.

6. APC Waiver Policy
The Article Processing Charge (APC) Waiver Policy outlines the circumstances under which authors can receive a waiver or reduction in the publication fee, which is typically required for open-access articles. The APC covers the costs of peer review, editing, and publishing. The waiver policy is designed to ensure that authors from underrepresented or financially constrained backgrounds can still publish their research in the journal. Eligibility for an APC waiver might be based on factors such as the author's geographical location (e.g., authors from low-income countries), institutional support, or early-career status. This policy helps promote inclusivity in the academic publishing process and ensures that important research in dermatology is not hindered by financial barriers.

7. Withdrawal Policy
The manuscript withdrawal policy provides the terms under which authors can retract or withdraw their submission after it has been submitted but before it is formally accepted or published. Common reasons for withdrawal include finding a significant error in the manuscript, choosing to submit the paper to another journal, or deciding to update the research. The policy outlines the process for withdrawing a manuscript, including notifying the editorial office, confirming that all co-authors agree with the decision, and ensuring that the manuscript is not cited or referenced once withdrawn. The policy also establishes guidelines for handling withdrawn papers that have already gone through peer review. This ensures the journal maintains its credibility and avoids confusion in the academic record.

8. Human and Animal Rights Policy
The Human and Animal Rights policy ensures that all research involving human or animal subjects adheres to ethical standards and legal requirements. Authors must confirm that their studies comply with the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki for human participants and adhere to relevant laws and regulations for animal studies. Institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee approval must be obtained before starting any study involving humans or animals. In dermatology, this policy applies to research involving clinical trials, skin biopsies, and other human-centered studies. The policy protects the rights and welfare of participants and ensures that the research is conducted ethically, providing confidence to the academic community and the public.

9. Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy
The errata, retraction, and corrigenda policy outlines the procedures for addressing published errors or misconduct. An erratum is issued for minor corrections, such as typographical errors, while a corrigendum is used for more significant but non-substantial mistakes, such as incorrect treatment protocols or clinical data. A retraction occurs when a study is found to have major ethical issues, such as falsification of data or plagiarism, and is no longer considered valid. This policy ensures that errors in the academic record are corrected and that any issues related to a study’s validity are transparently addressed. This maintains the integrity of dermatology research and ensures that the journal's content remains trustworthy.

10. Digital Preservation
The digital preservation policy ensures that all published content in the Dermatology – Open Journal is securely archived for long-term access. This includes storing articles in reliable digital repositories, such as the PubMed Central database and other open-access platforms. The goal is to prevent content loss due to technological advancements or institutional changes, ensuring that dermatological research is accessible to future generations. The journal works in partnership with trusted archives to ensure the ongoing availability of research in dermatology, even if the publication ceases operations in the future. This commitment to digital preservation is critical for maintaining the long-term integrity and accessibility of scholarly articles.

11. Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent
Respecting participant and patient privacy is a critical element of the research and publication process in dermatology. The journal requires authors to obtain informed consent from participants before publishing any personal or clinical data. This includes ensuring that patient information is anonymized unless explicit consent for the use of identifiable data has been obtained. The journal adheres to the principles of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S., the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU, and other relevant privacy laws to safeguard patient confidentiality. The policy also stresses the need for transparency and respect for participants' rights in clinical studies, which is essential for maintaining the trust of the public and the academic community.

12. Data Sharing Policy
The data sharing policy encourages authors to make the data underlying their research publicly available to promote transparency, reproducibility, and further scientific inquiry. Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in publicly accessible repositories, such as those provided by medical and dermatology associations, or institutional repositories. This open-data model allows researchers to validate findings, conduct secondary analyses, and apply insights from dermatology research to new contexts. The policy also outlines the circumstances under which data sharing might be limited, such as when data is protected by confidentiality agreements or includes sensitive patient information. The goal is to make data accessible while respecting ethical and legal constraints.

13. Submission of Manuscript
The submission policy outlines the procedures for submitting manuscripts to the Dermatology – Open Journal, including the submission platform, submission requirements, and the necessary documents, such as the copyright transfer agreement, conflict-of-interest statement, and ethical approval certification. All manuscripts should be submitted electronically via the journal’s submission system, and authors are required to follow the submission guidelines carefully to ensure a smooth review process. The journal accepts a range of article types, including original research, reviews, case reports, and commentaries in dermatology. Authors are expected to confirm that the manuscript has not been submitted or published elsewhere, and that all co-authors agree with the submission.

14. Manuscript Preparation
The manuscript preparation policy outlines the formatting and structural requirements for submissions to the journal. Authors must adhere to specific guidelines for abstract length, keyword selection, reference style, and figure/table formatting. Detailed instructions are provided for each type of manuscript, whether it is an original research article, review, case report, or letter to the editor. This ensures that submissions are consistent with the journal’s standards and facilitates the peer review and publication process. Manuscripts should be prepared in clear, concise language, with a strong focus on relevant dermatological concepts and findings.

15. Check List
The check list provides authors with a summary of requirements and steps to ensure that all necessary components of their manuscript are included and properly formatted. This includes ensuring that all authors have reviewed the manuscript, that relevant ethical approvals have been obtained, and that references are correctly formatted. The check list is designed to streamline the submission process and reduce delays caused by incomplete or improperly formatted manuscripts.

16. Sample Paper
To assist authors in manuscript preparation, the journal provides a sample paper demonstrating the correct structure, formatting, and content of a well-prepared submission. This sample paper serves as a model for authors, helping them avoid common mistakes and ensuring that all elements of the manuscript are included. It includes example sections, such as the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion, and shows how to structure figures and tables.

17. Article Processing Charge
The Article Processing Charge (APC) covers the costs associated with publishing open-access articles. This fee supports the peer review, editing, and publication of the article. The APC varies depending on the type of article and the author’s location, and discounts or waivers may be available based on financial need. This charge ensures that the journal remains sustainable while providing free access to the published research. Authors are informed about the APC at the time of submission and can choose to pay the charge or apply for a waiver.

18. Author’s Agreement Form
The Author’s Agreement Form is a document that authors must sign before their article can be published. This form outlines the terms and conditions of publication, including copyright transfer, licensing agreement, and any financial obligations, such as the Article Processing Charge (APC). The form ensures that authors understand their rights and responsibilities, as well as those of the journal. It also confirms that the manuscript is original, not under simultaneous review elsewhere, and that all ethical requirements have been met.

19. English Language Editing
The journal offers English language editing services to authors whose first language is not English. This service helps improve the clarity, grammar, and overall quality of the manuscript, ensuring it meets the standards of academic publication. Authors are encouraged to use this service if they feel that language issues may affect the readability of their manuscript, although the journal also welcomes manuscripts that are well-written in English.

20. Complaints Policy
The complaints policy outlines the procedures for submitting concerns or complaints related to the journal’s publishing process. These may include complaints about the editorial process, peer review, or ethical issues. The journal provides authors, reviewers, and readers with a clear mechanism for resolving issues and ensuring the integrity of the publication. The policy encourages open communication, transparency, and a commitment to addressing any grievances fairly and promptly.

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