Skin health and climate change in Africa: an overlooked intersection and call for action
Abstract
Climate and environmental change are increasingly affecting skin health across Africa, but this remains under-recognised in global health discussions. Rising temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, pollution, flooding, deforestation, and droughts are reshaping the epidemiology of many cutaneous infections, inflammatory conditions, and malignancies. Unregulated cosmetic and antiseptic skincare products further compound both cutaneous and environmental harm. Addressing these emerging challenges is essential for health equity and resilience across the continent's rapidly evolving landscape. The recent World Health Assembly resolution on skin diseases as a global public health priority affirms this need to include dermatology and skin health in climate and environmental health policies.
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