Climate Change Tied to Skin Disease Worsening in 42% of Countries

More than 40% of countries worldwide have reported climate-related changes in skin disease prevalence or severity, with lower-income countries disproportionately affected, according to results from the international SkinObservatory study presented at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, held September 30-October 3 in Vienna, Austria.¹

The SkinObservatory study, a collaboration between the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty, invited representatives from all 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member countries to characterize climate-related skin disease trends within their own health systems.¹ Data were collected from 136 countries spanning all 4 World Bank income groups, making it one of the largest global assessments of climate change's dermatologic impact to date.¹ The findings point to a stark disparity: countries contributing least to climate change are bearing a disproportionate share of its dermatologic consequences.²

"The most important finding from our study is that climate change is already associated with negative impacts on skin disease, and these effects disproportionately burden lower-income settings," said Esther Freeman, MD, PhD, L'Oréal/CeraVe Endowed Chair of Global Health Dermatology and director of global health dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.²

SkinObservatory study design and global prevalence findings

The SkinObservatory study surveyed country-level representatives across 136 nations spanning low-income, lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income, and high-income classifications, per World Bank criteria.¹ Respondents reported on the prevalence and severity of climate-related skin disease within their national health systems, along with regional epidemiologic trends.¹

Overall, 42.6% of participating countries reported climate-related changes in skin disease prevalence or severity, with significant disparities by income level.¹ Low-income countries reported changes most frequently (55.6%), followed by lower-middle-income countries (52.5%), compared with 43.8% of upper-middle-income and 28.3% of high-income countries.¹ Regional variation was substantial, ranging from 64.7% in the Western Pacific Region to 16.1% in the European Region, while 42.9% of respondents in the African Region reported uncertainty about climate-related dermatologic impact.¹

SkinObservatory findings on inflammatory and infectious skin disease

Among the 58 countries reporting climate-associated effects on skin health, 81.0% described increases in heat-related rashes and 75.9% reported increases in inflammatory skin disease.¹ Changes in infectious disease epidemiology were reported by 62.1% of respondents, and 50.0% reported changes in vector-borne disease patterns.¹ The study characterized these findings at the disease-category level rather than identifying individual conditions.²

Higher temperatures and humidity can increase sweating and skin irritation, while heat, air pollution, and other environmental exposures may trigger or worsen inflammation, according to Freeman.² Shifts in temperature and rainfall can also alter the habitats of mosquitoes, ticks, and other disease vectors, potentially allowing them to persist in regions where they were previously uncommon, Freeman said.² Extreme weather events can further disrupt access to medicines and routine dermatologic care, complicating management of existing disease.²

"An important point is that uncertainty does not necessarily mean there is no impact. It may mean we do not yet have enough information to see it clearly," said Freeman, who noted "less than 3 dermatologists per million population" exist across Africa, citing separate workforce research.²

The study authors are calling for stronger dermatologic surveillance, expanded clinician and community education, and adaptation strategies tailored to local climate exposures and health system resources, particularly in resource-limited settings.² Freeman said dermatologic consequences of climate change should be incorporated into public health policy rather than treated solely as a specialty dermatology concern.² Additional findings from the SkinObservatory study are available at skinobservatory.org.¹

REFERENCES:

1. Khalfalla T, et al. The global impact of climate change on dermatological disease: international results from 136 countries participating in the SkinObservatory study. Presented at: European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2026; September 30-October 3, 2026; Vienna, Austria.

2. European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. New study reveals major impact of climate change on skin health worldwide [press release]. Published September 30, 2026. Accessed September 30, 2026. https://eadv.org/congress/