Understanding Skin Health, Globally

The Global Access to Skin Health Observatory, or Skin Observatory, is a landmark global study led by Dr Esther Freeman in collaboration with the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty.

The Skin Observatory addresses a critical gap in global skin health data: the lack of consistent, worldwide evidence on the distribution of dermatologists and the barriers people face in accessing dermatologic care. While access to dermatology services has been studied in some countries and regions, there has not previously been a comprehensive global assessment across all 194 WHO Member States.

The study examines key barriers to dermatologic care, including workforce shortages, limited training, infrastructure challenges and patient-related factors. Understanding these barriers is essential to improving access to care and addressing the global burden of skin disease, which remains one of the leading causes of nonfatal disease burden worldwide and contributes to morbidity across all age groups.

The study is being conducted in two phases. Phase 1, now complete, used an online REDCap survey of key in-country leaders across all WHO Member States to assess dermatology workforce capacity, service availability and barriers to care. Phase 2, projected to begin in 2026, will involve a more in-depth evaluation of a subset of countries at the public, patient and healthcare provider levels.