Climate Change Raises Skin Disease Risks Worldwide: Study

Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather may be doing more than increasing the risk of heatstroke and respiratory illness. Climate change is also emerging as a growing concern for skin health, with a new international study finding that more than 40% of countries surveyed have reported changes in the prevalence or severity of skin diseases linked to climate-related factors.

The findings have particular relevance for India, where prolonged heat waves, high humidity, flooding, air pollution and changing patterns of infectious diseases expose large populations to multiple environmental stresses. The study presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2026 highlights how these changes can aggravate existing skin conditions, increase infections and put additional pressure on healthcare systems, particularly in countries with limited access to specialist care.

The study covered 136 countries and found that 42.6% reported climate-related changes in the prevalence or severity of skin disease. The impact was reported more frequently in lower-income countries, with 55.6% of low-income and 52.5% of lower-middle-income countries reporting changes, compared with 28.3% of high-income countries.

The findings underline an emerging dimension of climate-related illness that may receive less attention than heat-related deaths, respiratory problems and vector-borne infections: the effect of environmental changes on the body's largest organ.

“The most important finding from our study is that climate change is already associated with negative impacts on skin disease, and these effects disproportionately burden lower-income settings,” said study author Dr Esther Freeman.

“We often think about the effects of extreme weather on heatstroke, cardiovascular problems and respiratory diseases, but the skin is our front line to climate change.”

For India, this concern extends across both urban and rural settings. People working outdoors, including agricultural labourers, construction workers, street vendors and sanitation workers, may spend long hours exposed to heat, sunlight, dust and pollution. In cities, high temperatures, humidity and poor air quality can add to the burden, while flooding and inadequate sanitation can create conditions conducive to certain skin infections.

The study found that among the 58 countries reporting climate-associated effects on skin disease, 81% reported increases in heat rashes and 75.9% reported changes in inflammatory skin diseases. Changes in infectious skin diseases were reported by 62.1%, while half reported changes in vector-borne diseases.

The researchers attributed these trends to several interacting environmental factors. Higher temperatures and humidity can increase sweating, skin irritation and discomfort, while heat and air pollution may trigger or worsen inflammatory conditions. Changes in rainfall and temperature can also alter the habitats of mosquitoes, ticks and other disease-carrying organisms, potentially changing the distribution of infections.

However, the concern is not limited to temporary discomfort. Persistent heat, friction, moisture and exposure to irritants can aggravate some existing skin conditions, particularly among people who have limited access to clean water, protective clothing or suitable working conditions.

Heat rash, also called prickly heat, develops when sweat ducts become blocked, trapping sweat beneath the skin. It can cause small, itchy or prickling bumps, particularly in areas where sweat accumulates. High temperatures and humidity can make these symptoms more likely.

Inflammatory skin diseases, including eczema and some forms of dermatitis, may also worsen with heat, sweating and environmental irritants. Air pollution is another potential aggravating factor, as exposure to particulate matter and other pollutants has been associated with skin irritation and inflammatory responses.

For people already living with chronic skin conditions, these environmental stresses can make symptoms harder to manage. The impact may be especially significant for those who work outdoors or in hot environments and cannot easily avoid exposure.

The study, however, does not establish that every reported increase in skin disease was directly caused by climate change. Its findings are based on reports from participating country representatives, reflecting perceived changes in disease prevalence or severity. They point to a growing concern and the need for stronger surveillance and further research.

The study reported changes in infectious skin diseases in more than six in 10 countries that identified climate-associated effects. It also found that half of these countries reported changes in vector-borne diseases. These findings reinforce the need to consider dermatological health alongside other climate-sensitive diseases when preparing for extreme weather.

One of the study's most important findings is the difference in reported impacts across income groups. Lower-income countries were more likely to report climate-related changes in skin disease than high-income countries.

The researchers warned that this inequality is compounded by differences in healthcare access and the ability to adapt. Countries facing extreme heat, floods and changing rainfall may also have fewer dermatologists, medicines and public health resources to identify and manage emerging problems.

The geographical findings also point to the importance of regional preparedness. Climate-related changes were reported by 60% of participating countries in the South-East Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions, compared with 16.1% in Europe. The researchers said these differences underline the need for locally relevant evidence rather than a single global approach.

Dr Freeman said skin health should become part of climate-health preparedness, with surveillance and education helping communities and health professionals respond earlier.