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Date of issue: February 2026
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Dear ILDS Members, friends and colleagues,
2025 was a historic year for our community, marked by significant achievements and milestones that will shape the future of dermatology worldwide. At the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in May 2025, the passing of the first-ever resolution recognising skin disease as a global public health priority is not only a major milestone for global health, but a catalyst for us to work collaboratively to strengthen healthcare systems, improve early detection, reduce stigma, and expand access to care for all. I am extremely proud and humbled by the achievements made by our community in 2025 and offer my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for your tireless commitment to our field.
In the year ahead, with your support, we hope to strengthen our collaborative initiatives, focusing on innovation, research, and education to enhance patient care. I am positive that, together, we can make significant strides in reducing the global burden of skin disease.
Let's embrace this opportunity to champion skin health, advocate for equitable access to dermatological care, and inspire the next generation of dermatologists to achieve #SkinHealth4theWorld!
With warm personal greetings,
A Historic Moment for Skin Health: What the New WHA Resolution Means
Want to understand why the recent World Health Assembly Resolution recognising skin disease as a global public health priority is such a historic moment for global health, and for the 4.6 billion people living with skin diseases worldwide? This video is the perfect place to start. It explains why this moment matters - for countries, for health systems, and for people living with skin diseases around the world. Watch to understand:
- What the resolution is and why it is historic
- How it will change global conversations on skin health
- The impact it could have on access to care, training, essential medicines, and reducing stigma
- Why this opens the door for governments, the WHO, and organisations like ours to work together towards skin health for all.
Advancing Global Skin Health | 4th ILDS World Skin Summit
The 4th ILDS World Skin Summit (WSS), held from 23-25 October 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, brought together over 162 delegates from 82 ILDS Member Societies and across 54 countries, marking a clear increase in attendance and geographic representation compared with the 2022 Summit. Dermatology leaders from all ILDS regions were joined by representatives from patient organisations, the World Health Organization, academia and industry, underscoring the Summit’s truly global reach.
Hosted by the ILDS every four years, the Summit reaffirmed a shared commitment to #SkinHealth4theWorld and provided a dynamic forum for high-level discussion on access to dermatological care, workforce capacity, data and digital innovation, and the integration of skin health within broader global health agendas. Featuring 21 speakers from 16 countries, the programme fostered rich exchange through plenary sessions and interactive workshops, with discussions that will directly inform ILDS strategy and programme development in the years ahead. Photos from the 4th ILDS World Skin Summit are available here, and the official post-Summit report, including key outcomes and agreed actions, will be released in the coming weeks.
During the World Skin Summit, we were thrilled to be able to present certificates to the 2025 recipients of the ILDS Medal for Achievement in Global Dermatology and the Young Dermatologist International Achievement Awards. Congratulations to all the worthy winners! Click here to find out more about our inspiring winners!
Updates from the ILDS Secretariat
ILDS Member Representatives attended the ILDS Annual General Meeting 2025 which took place in Cape Town, South Africa during the WSS. ILDS reports were delivered by the President, Secretary General and Treasurer along with a report on the International Foundation of Dermatology from the Chair. Thank you to our engaged membership community who raised questions for discussion and voted on key organisational matters.
Deadline approaching! Applications are open for World Skin Health Day (WSHD) 2026 grants, supporting dermatology-led initiatives that promote Skin Health for All. Led by the ILDS and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD), WSHD is marked annually on 8 July and empowers dermatologists, trainees, healthcare providers, patients, organisations and societies to deliver local impact through awareness, education, advocacy and care. For WSHD 2026, selected projects will receive US$7,000 to support events aligned with the theme “Better Knowledge. Better Skin Health.” Application deadline: 15 February 2026. Apply here.
ILDS Members - Do not forget to shine a light on the incredible individuals who are making significant contributions to the dermatological community by nominating them for an ILDS Certificate of Appreciation 2026 Award. Nominations can be made for dermatologists and others in the field of dermatological care who have made an outstanding contribution in either International Leadership or Humanitarian Dermatology. Reminders have been sent so check your inbox.
Need your link? Contact membership@ilds.org
Grand Challenges in Global Skin Health updates
Launched in 2015, one of the key initiatives of the ILDS is the Grand Challenges in Global Skin Health. This initiative aims to prioritise and address the most pressing global skin health issues through the work of individual Global Atlases (Global Psoriasis Atlas, Global Atopic Dermatitis Atlas, Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas, Global Vitiligo Atlas and Prurigo and Pruritus Initiative) as well as cross-Atlas collaborations. Find out more here.
In October, the ILDS and the Grand Challenges in Global Skin Health committee hosted the 1st Grand Challenges Industry Summit in London, convening senior leaders from dermatology research initiatives and the life-science industry to explore collaborative approaches to advancing global skin health. The programme featured presentations on the WHA Resolution and across the ILDS Grand Challenges portfolio, including the Global Psoriasis Atlas, Global Atopic Dermatitis Atlas, Global Vitiligo Atlas, Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas and the Global Alopecia Areata Atlas, alongside an overview of cross-cutting Grand Challenges projects.
Industry participants from AbbVie, Sanofi, UCB, Almirall, Incyte, L’Oréal and Johnson & Johnson contributed to strategic discussions on data-driven research, sustainable partnership models and opportunities to translate evidence into real-world impact. The Summit marked an important first step toward deeper, more coordinated engagement between ILDS and industry partners. Click here for more.
The Global Atopic Dermatitis Atlas would like to share an article by the Dutch Association for People with Atopic Eczema entitled 'The Patient Voice in Atopic Eczema Guidelines: How Do We Make it Standard Practice?', co-authored by Prof Ncoza Dlova, Regional ILDS Director for Africa. ILDS Members involved in guideline development are encouraged to read and reflect on this important contribution, which offers timely insights to help strengthen future AE guidelines and ensure they better reflect the needs and lived experiences of patients and their families. Read the article here.
The ILDS has announced the publication of a landmark study from the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA): the first global prevalence analysis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Published in JAMA Dermatology, this milestone marks a major step forward in understanding the true global burden of HS and underscores the need for improved recognition, data and access to care worldwide. Read the press release.
Webinars on Demand
We are thrilled to share the following new webinars that have recently been added to our growing library from the ILDS Education Committee and beyond. View the complete playlist of webinars here.
"Dermatosurgery in Financial Constraints", focused on delivering safe, effective dermatological surgery in resource-limited settings. Through concise, expert talks, the session explored practical, low-cost approaches to dermatosurgical care, including affordable energy devices, innovative techniques and optimised skin biopsy practices, offering actionable guidance for clinicians managing skin cancer and other surgical dermatology needs across diverse healthcare contexts
The webinar “Skin-NTDs across borders: Impact of migration and climate change on skin health” took place on 30 January 2026 to celebrate World NTD Day, as we continue to unite, act and eliminate NTDs globally.
The webinar was hosted by the NTD NGO Network Skin Cross Cutting Group and International League of Dermatological Societies World Health Assembly Resolution Implementation (WHARI) Taskforce.
ILDS in Motion
How do you raise awareness and improve care in a region where access to dermatology is extremely limited? This short film follows a World Skin Health Day campaign in Sumbawa, Indonesia, an island of around 1.5 million people, where there is only one dermatologist who arrived last year. Patients have long struggled to access specialist care, making early detection and treatment of skin conditions a major challenge. Led by local health workers and supported by global partners, the campaign focused on strengthening services through training for frontline healthcare providers, community outreach, and the launch of a teledermatology platform to support long-term skin health care. From building capacity in primary care to addressing neglected tropical diseases such as leprosy, the film highlights how awareness, education and collaboration can improve early diagnosis, reduce stigma, and create meaningful, lasting change - even in remote settings.
This video was created as part of the ILDS in Motion: A Visual Journey of Global Skin Health film project. The project aims to capture, celebrate and showcase the exceptional achievements of ILDS members, projects and programmes through professional documentary-style video and photography.
Welcome to our new Members
We are delighted to welcome the following societies to our unique community!
To find ILDS Members from around the world, click here to view the Member Directory.
International Foundation of Dermatology
The World Forum on Skin Cancer Prevention and Management in Persons with Albinism was held on 27–28 October 2025 in Cape Town, bringing together clinicians, researchers, advocates, and patient organisations from around the world. Organised by International League of Dermatological Societies, Global Albinism Alliance, and Standing Voice, the Forum focused on strengthening collaboration, sharing evidence and lived experience, and building momentum towards a coordinated global approach to improving skin cancer prevention and management for persons with albinism. View photos here or watch the Forum highlights.
ILDS Board Members and Staff, as well as our 2026 GLODERM Mentees and Mentors, joined over 400 attendees at the 31st RDTC CME Conference & Past Graduate Reunion 2026 from 7-10 January. The event is now one of the largest dermatology meetings in all of Africa! Find out more here.
This year, the IFD has awarded 21 projects, totalling US$100,000, for the 2026 DermLink Grants programme. This is the highest number of projects supported since the launch of the programme. More information about the projects, spanning 18 countries in Africa, South America, and Asia, will be shared soon. Thank you to all of the ILDS Members who supported DermLink projects this year.
Issue 21(2) of the Community Skin Health Journal (CSHJ) is now available to read online or via the CSHJ App! As the official Journal of the IFD, the CSHJ provides essential information on the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases in under-served areas. It is an invaluable resource for educating health workers and the communities they serve, and for staying in touch with dermatology services in low-resource areas. Click here to view.
The 16th Annual Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Non-Governmental Organization Network (NNN) Conference, themed Sustainable Innovations for Impact – Transforming the Fight Against NTDs, took place from 30 September to 2 October 2025 in Kampala, Uganda. Hear from Dr Morvarid Zehtab, ILDS Postdoctoral Fellow, on how the event showcased the collaborative fight against NTDs with the participation of over 50 countries involved as stakeholders, policy makers, community leaders and persons-affected by NTDs, Ministry of Health members, NTD care providers and researchers. Click here to read the full article.
ILDS Engagement with the WHO
On 4 February 2026, at the 158th session of the WHO Executive Board, the ILDS delivered statements on mental health and communicable diseases. The statements were delivered by ILDS Chief Executive Officer, Arpita Bhose, and Immediate Past President and ILDS–WHO Committee Chair, Prof Lars French. Click here to read and hear the statements.
News from our Partner - GLODERM
Join us on 26 March 2026 for the GLODERM Scientific Meeting, taking place ahead of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Participate in person or online for this pre-meeting featuring a morning of insightful presentations and networking with like-minded colleagues in global health dermatology. Click here to register!
In January, we proudly launched the 2026 GLODERM Mentorship Programme, welcoming our newest international cohort of mentees and mentors for an inspiring week of global health dermatology learning and connection.
The programme kicked off alongside the Regional Dermatology Training Centre Annual CME Meeting, featuring esteemed speakers and engaging dermatology presentations. We continued this momentum with interactive leadership workshops, personal development sessions, and meaningful local community outreach as part of the GLODERM Leadership Development Retreat in Moshi, Tanzania.
This immersive, in-person experience marked the beginning of a 12-month mentorship journey, creating valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration, and inspiration as mentees embark on their path to becoming future global health dermatology changemakers. We look forward to seeing these connections grow and the impact they will create over the coming year.
Stay tuned for our next call for mentee applications to join the 2027 GLODERM Mentorship Programme - coming soon! Click here to find out more about the programme.
Join Dr Stephen Humphreys for an engaging presentation on ‘Paediatric Atopic Dermatitis and Common Complications’ on Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 15:00 – 16:00 UTC. This live webinar will end with a Q&A session, so come prepared to interact with the speaker and learn more on this dermatologic condition.
Register here for this free webinar!
World Congress of Dermatology
Registration to attend WCD2027 in Guadalajara, Mexico, is now open to all delegates. Details regarding registration categories, applicable fees, and registration policies are available here. ILDS Members are still encouraged to register early and benefit from preferential ILDS Member registration rates and early bird fees (for a limited period only).
Follow the World Congress of Dermatology 2027 (WCD2027) on social media and sign up to the newsletter! Be the first to know about the programme, special rates for ILDS Members and more!
Last few spaces available for ILDS Sister Society meetings @ WCD2027! These scientific sessions will take place on the 21 June 2027, the day before the beginning of the World Congress of Dermatology 2027’s official Scientific Programme in Guadalajara, Mexico. Spaces are now very limited and we only have minimal availability for full day or half day sessions. Click here for more information and to book your session.
Events
Upcoming ILDS and Member events can be found below. Visit our events page for more information.
*Terms and conditions apply (see form for more details). Any request received may be considered by the Communications Committee before publication.
Important dates
15 February 2026
Deadline for World Skin Health Day 2026 applications
25 February 2026
GLODERM Webinar 'Paediatric Atopic Dermatitis and Common Complications'
28 February 2026
Deadline for Certificate of Appreciation 2026 nominations
4 March 2026
Young Dermatologist International Achievement Awards 2027 launch
26 March 2026
GLODERM PreAAD Scientific Meeting
Follow @ILDSDerm to stay up to date with all the latest news, activities and opportunities or scan the QR code below.
Editor's Message:
As we step into 2026, I would like to echo the powerful message shared by our ILDS President above. Reflecting on the historic achievements of 2025, particularly the landmark resolution at the 78th World Health Assembly, it is evident that our community is on a transformative path. Recognising skin disease as a global public health priority is not just a milestone, but a testament to our collective dedication to advancing dermatological care worldwide.
This newsletter offers a glimpse into the inspiring projects and initiatives being carried out globally, showcasing the remarkable efforts of individuals and organisations dedicated to making a positive impact. I hope you find these stories as motivating and inspiring as we do.
Thank you for continuing to support our journey.
Warm regards,
Esther
Dr Esther Freeman
Editor, ILDS Newsletter
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