Dermatologists warn that climate change affects the health of our skin.

The president of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), Yolanda Gilaberte, has warned of the impact that climate change has on skin health, as rising temperatures, low humidity, and pollution can cause or worsen skin conditions.

"Rising temperatures can affect atopic dermatitis, influence diseases where increased sweating is harmful, and, of course, skin cancer," the president of the Academy told EFE. This week, the Academy held its fifty-second Congress in Valencia, bringing together more than 2,000 dermatologists.

According to the Spanish Academy of Dermatology, through its sustainability program, "is very interested in investigating the short- and long-term impact of all these changes on skin diseases caused by climate change."

For Gilaberte, rising temperatures and low humidity can lead to changes in the vectors, bacteria, fungi, and viruses we have around us and could generate infections on the skin, our external barrier, that are not common in our environment.

Furthermore, climate change and pollution can negatively influence atopic dermatitis, as the skin is very sensitive and is much more susceptible to these environmental changes, as well as to conditions in which increased sweating is harmful, such as hidradenitis or hyperhidrosis.

Also in the so-called 'psychodermatoses', skin diseases that are related to psychological issues, and "of course" in skin cancer, since an increase in temperatures "will cause people to spend more time outdoors and with less clothing, and that means more sun exposure and more skin cancer."

Increase in cases

According to Gilaberte, in recent years there has been an increase in the incidence of atopic dermatitis and autoimmune diseases, which "are undoubtedly influenced by environmental factors," as well as skin cancer, "which has continued to increase for many years and continues unabated."

"We're going to see this increase in cases of skin diseases influenced by climate change gradually; it won't be a sudden increase like what happens when a natural disaster occurs, such as the Dana, where skin conditions related to flooding were seen," he explained.

The president of the Spanish Academy also warned of the effects that microplastics "to which we are exposed in cosmetics or food" can have on the skin.

Customize photoprotection

"We must try to educate and personalize sun protection because not everyone has the same risk or the same exposure," according to Gilaberte, who emphasized that the Academy advocates educating citizens and offering them recommendations on the importance of skin hygiene, sun protection, and early detection of potential skin problems.

He explains that people who work outdoors constantly need very intensive protection because their risk of skin cancer is high, but those who work in an office or in a city with heavy pollution need more protection against the environmental contamination to which they are exposed.

"We're by no means going to encourage people to stay home, which is the most protective option of all. Of course, you have to go out, enjoy yourself, and exercise, but always with appropriate protective measures."

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In this regard, he noted that the Academy has the free mobile app UV-Derma, which seeks to promote healthy skin habits to combat the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure.

This is an informational tool that offers skin cancer prevention tips with real-time weather information on the levels of solar ultraviolet radiation incident in the location where the person with their mobile phone is located.

The first thing a person does when they log in is view their skin type and identify how their skin responds to the sun. The app provides real-time UV index (UVI) information and basic sun protection recommendations.