Tuesday, July 8, 2025 is World Skin Health Day (WSHD).

With the theme of “No Health without Skin Health,” WSHD seeks to raise awareness of the more than 3,000 known skin diseases and of the impact of these diseases on patients and their families and communities. It also aims to educate and support those affected, empower healthcare professionals and caregivers, and advocate for fair and equitable access to dermatological care around the world.

WSHD is led by the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD). This year’s event follows a landmark World Health Assembly resolution passed in May 2025, which formally recognized skin diseases as a “Global Public Health Priority.”

Worldwide Activities

Activities run by individuals, community groups, and organizations to provide education and dermatological care to underserved communities will take place around the world. They include nine outreach projects run by ILDS member societies and other organizations, and supported by the ILDS, the ISD and CeraVe Care for All. They are: 

• Bangladesh– the provision of mobile skincare clinics for displaced populations in climate-affected coastal areas of the country.
• Brazil– providing support for the early diagnosis of Leprosy through clinical screenings and education for medical students in high-prevalence northern regions of the country.
• Colombia– an event addressing the hair and scalp needs of Afro-Colombian communities, including consultations, workshops, and a symposium.
• Ethiopia– screenings and educational outreach activities focusing on skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs) in rural areas of Southern Ethiopia.
• Greece and Malta– the provision of dermatological care for refugees and migrants via mobile clinics and training for healthcare workers, including the introduction of teledermatology.
• Indonesia– training for healthcare workers on managing common and skin NTDs, plus outreach skin camps on the island of Sumbawa and the introduction of teledermatology.
• Nigeria– a mobile outreach campaign delivering dermatological screenings and treatment to internally displaced persons in Northern Nigeria.
• Philippines– the provision of outreach clinics, together with community and healthcare worker education in remote parts of Palawan province, supported by a nationwide radio campaign to raise awareness.
• Tanzania & USA– parallel education and screening events in the cities of Bagamoyo and Milwaukee, including workshops, consultations, and hygiene product distribution.

Raise Awareness

“This year’s WSHD will, once again, raise awareness of the impact of skin diseases on billions of patients and their families around the world, deliver important education, and highlight the urgent need for greater access to dermatological care,” says ILDS President Henry W. Lim, MD, former Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Henry Ford Hospital and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, MI, in a news release. “We thank all those supporting WSHD by giving their time and expertise to deliver projects this year. We’re also incredibly proud to be supporting nine inspiring initiatives, selected from more than 200 proposals. Each will make a significant impact on skin health among communities that need it most.”

He adds: “Thanks to CeraVe Care for All’s generous support, we have, once again, been able to expand our reach and support more impactful work on the ground this year. We’re grateful for their continued commitment to skin health equity.”

Dr. Martin Kassir, ISD President, says, “World Skin Health Day continues to shine a light on the vital importance of skin health in overall well-being. This year, we are inspired by the dedication and creativity of individuals and organizations across the globe who are undertaking activities to meet local skin health needs with compassion and innovation. From mobile clinics in remote regions to education and outreach in underserved communities, these efforts reflect a shared commitment to equity in dermatological care.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone contributing to this global movement—your work is changing lives and advancing the message that there truly is no health without skin health.”

A Fundamental Right

“At CeraVe, we believe that access to dermatological care is not a privilege—it’s a fundamental right,” adds Gene Colon, CeraVe’s Global Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs & Communications. “Through our Care for All initiative, we are proud to support World Skin Health Day and its mission to reach underserved communities around the world for the second year. We know that skin health is health, and we remain committed to working alongside global partners to ensure no-one is left behind when it comes to skincare access, education, and training.” 

WSHD toolkits and resources are available for free download via the World Skin Health Day website to encourage organizations and individuals to host their own events throughout July.