End of year message from ILDS President, Prof Henry W. Lim 2025

2025 has been a historic year for the ILDS and our membership community!

As we near the end of 2025, another remarkable year for dermatology, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support and dedication to the global dermatology community. This year has been an historic year for all of us, marked by significant achievements and milestones that will shape the future of dermatology worldwide.

This year, we were thrilled to receive the news that the WHO had renewed the ‘Official Relations’ status of the ILDS, from 2025 to 2027. This renewal reaffirms the ILDS as a key partner of the WHO and underscores the ILDS’s vital role in promoting skin health around the world. 

In May, we welcomed the adoption of the historic resolution ‘Skin Diseases as a Global Public Health Priority’ at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA). This crucial development brings much-needed recognition to our field and empowers us to implement meaningful changes in our regions. It is a testament to the collective efforts of our community, advocating for the importance of skin health on a global scale. We look forward to working together to implement the resolution and transforming access to skin health services globally. 

Our membership numbers continued to grow this year. The addition of eight new countries represented further solidifies our role as a representative body of the global dermatology community, enabling us to advocate more effectively on your behalf. Each new member strengthens our voice and enhances our ability to drive positive change in dermatology. 

The 4th ILDS World Skin Summit in October brought together 162 delegates, representing 82 ILDS Member societies from around the world, to Cape Town for a meeting filled with vital discussions. The insights and outcomes from the Summit will play a crucial role in shaping the ILDS strategy moving forward. Your participation and contributions are invaluable in ensuring that our strategic goals align with the needs and aspirations of our diverse community. 

We also celebrated an unprecedented level of engagement during this year’s World Skin Health Day under the theme “No Health Without Skin Health”, reaching an incredible 45 million people around the world! This initiative gained considerable momentum, with more countries participating than ever before, raising awareness and driving improvements in global skin health.  

As I reflect on these achievements, I am reminded of the power of collaboration and the impact we can make when we unite towards our common goal of #SkinHealth4theWorld. I am truly humbled to serve as your President and thank you all for your continued commitment and passion. We look forward to another year of progress and success alongside our outstanding dermatological community. 

Our work is made possible thanks to the exceptional support of our industry partners, patient organisations, and member society donors. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them for their continued partnership. Finally, we express our sincere gratitude to the ILDS Secretariat, led by CEO Arpita Bhose, for their ongoing professional support. 

With best wishes for a very happy holiday season,

Prof Henry W. Lim

ILDS President