Climate Change Increasing the Risk of Skin Diseases: Global Study

Why in the News?

• A global study covering 136 countries has highlighted the growing impact of climate change on skin health.
• The findings were presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

Key Findings of the Study

• Global impact: Around 42.6% of the countries surveyed reported changes in the prevalence or severity of skin diseases associated with climate change.
• Income-based differences: Such changes were reported by 55.6% of low-income countries and 52.5% of lower-middle-income countries. The figures were 43.8% for upper-middle-income countries and 28.3% for high-income countries.
• Regional variations: The Western Pacific region reported the highest impact at 64.7%, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia, at 60% each. Europe reported 16.1%.
• Types of skin conditions: Among the 58 countries reporting climate-related effects, 81% reported increases in heat rashes, 75.9% in inflammatory skin diseases and 62.1% in infectious skin diseases.
• Vector-borne diseases: Half of these countries reported changes in diseases transmitted by vectors, such as mosquitoes and ticks.

How Does Climate Change Affect Skin Health?

• Rising temperatures and humidity: Increased sweating and skin irritation can worsen certain skin conditions.
• Air pollution: Environmental pollutants can trigger or aggravate skin inflammation.
• Changing rainfall patterns: Changes in temperature and rainfall may expand the habitats of disease-carrying organisms.
• High humidity: Research suggests that humid conditions can affect the skin's microbial balance and contribute to the recurrence of psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease.

Why Are Lower-Income Countries More Vulnerable?

• These countries often face extreme heat and changing rainfall patterns despite contributing relatively little to global climate change.
• Limited access to healthcare, dermatologists and medicines makes prevention and treatment more difficult.
• A study published in JAMA Dermatology in August 2026 highlighted the shortage of dermatologists in Africa, where their number is below three per million people across the continent.

Way Forward

• Strengthen surveillance and research on climate-related health problems.
• Improve public awareness and healthcare workers' training.
• Develop locally appropriate strategies for preventing and treating skin diseases.
• Integrate skin health into climate adaptation plans and public health preparedness.

What are Vector-Borne Diseases?

• Vector-borne diseases are infections caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites that reach humans through infected living carriers called vectors.
• Common vectors include mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, sandflies, lice and tsetse flies.
• Infection usually occurs through the bite of an infected vector.
• The spread and reproduction of many vectors are influenced by temperature, rainfall and other climatic conditions.
• These diseases are particularly common in tropical and subtropical regions and often affect vulnerable and poorer populations.
• Globally, vector-borne diseases account for a significant share of infectious diseases and can cause severe illness or death if untreated.

Important Examples

• Mosquitoes: Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, Yellow Fever, Filariasis, Japanese Encephalitis and West Nile Fever.
• Tsetse flies: African Trypanosomiasis.
• Sandflies: Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar).
• Ticks: Lyme Disease, Tick-borne Encephalitis, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, Relapsing Fever and Rickettsial Diseases.
• Lice: Typhus and Louse-borne Relapsing Fever.

Practice Question

Q. With reference to climate change, skin health and vector-borne diseases, consider the following statements:

1. The Western Pacific region recorded a higher proportion of countries reporting climate-related changes in skin diseases than the European region. 
2. Among countries reporting climate-related effects on skin diseases, heat rashes were more commonly reported than infectious skin diseases. 
3. Climate-related changes in temperature and rainfall can influence the habitats of disease vectors. 
4. Vector-borne diseases are caused exclusively by parasites and are transmitted only through mosquitoes and ticks.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only 

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. The Western Pacific region reported climate-related changes in skin diseases in 64.7% of countries, compared with 16.1% in the European region.
• Statement 2 is correct. Among the 58 countries reporting climate-related effects, 81% reported an increase in heat rashes, compared with 62.1% reporting changes in infectious skin diseases.
• Statement 3 is correct. Changes in temperature and rainfall can alter the habitats and geographical distribution of vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks. Hence, they can influence the spread of vector-borne diseases.
• Statement 4 is incorrect. Vector-borne diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites and may be transmitted through different vectors, including mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, sandflies, lice and tsetse flies. Hence, the words ‘exclusively’ and ‘only’ make the statement incorrect.