(Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, 30 September 2026) More than 40% of countries worldwide have reported climate-related changes in the prevalence and/or severity of skin disease, with lower-income countries disproportionately
affected, according to a major international study spanning 136 countries.
Climate change poses a growing threat to skin health through rising temperatures, extreme weather, changing rainfall patterns, climate-related migration and ecosystem disruption, influencing the incidence and severity of
skin conditions.2,3 Despite growing awareness of climate-related skin disease, its global scope and clinical implications remain poorly understood.
The study, presented today at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2026, invited representatives from 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member countries to participate in the Global Access to Skin Health Observatory (SkinObservatory) study, a collaboration between the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty.