Dear GlobalSkin Members, 

It’s been a very busy first half of 2026 for GlobalSkin with many examples of our commitment to improving the lives of people living with skin conditions. I am incredibly grateful and impressed by how active GlobalSkin Members are worldwide in advancing patient-centered healthcare through research, advocacy and collaboration. 

On June 3, 2026, GlobalSkin's Patient-Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD) Measure was recognized with a Systematic Meaningful Patient Engagement Award at the Made with Patients Awards in Seville, Spain. This award reflects PRIDD's role as the first fully validated patient-reported outcome measure developed specifically for dermatology. Created with patients at every stage of its development, PRIDD captures the real-world impact of living with a skin disease, including the physical, psychological, social, and day-to-day burdens associated with skin conditions. By transforming lived experiences into meaningful data, PRIDD measure helps advance more patient-centered research, care, and decision-making.  

From June 2-4, GlobalSkin was present in Seville, Spain for the Patient Engagement Open Forum (PEOF) 2026, one of the leading international gatherings focused on advancing patient engagement across the healthcare ecosystem. We were represented by GlobalSkin CEO Jennifer Austin and Director of Research Programs and Operations Allison FitzGerald. Jennifer serves on Board of PFMD, one of the organizations co-hosting the event, and Allison sits on the PEOF Conference Organizing Committee. 

PRIDD has been licensed for use by 20 different institutions across eight different countries. A significant driver of trust in our new measure are our seven scientific journal articles which have been viewed 12,500 times and cited by seven different publications more than 60 times. 

GlobalSkin Director of Research Programs and Operations Allison FitzGerald recently participated in meetings to inform future updates to the Core Outcome Set – HOME (Harmonizing Outcome Measures for Eczema) and HECOS (Hand Eczema Core Outcome Set).

We are pleased to share that an article co-authored by GlobalSkin was recently published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (JEADV). Drawing on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, the article examines the significant and often underestimated impact of skin diseases worldwide, which affect approximately one in three people globally. The findings highlight the prevalence of skin diseases and the disability they cause, while revealing important regional and age-related differences in disease burden. 

The World Skin Health Coalition, for which GlobalSkin is secretariat, has developed a new toolkit to support advocacy around the implementation of the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution on Skin Diseases. As a partner in the Coalition, GlobalSkin will soon be able to share the toolkit with its members. The toolkit offers a range of educational and advocacy resources designed to help turn the Resolution into meaningful change in policy and practice. As a ready-to-use piece, it can support either internal training or direct engagement with policymakers.  

Board Directors Tina Mesarič and Ritu Jain, along with CEO Jennifer Austin and Public Affairs Director Visnja Zaborski Breton attended the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) in Geneva, May 18-23, 2026. During the week they participated in events and discussions and made linkages on advancing implementation efforts one year after the adoption of the Skin Diseases Resolution and supporting the development of the WHO Global Action Plan on Skin Diseases. 

An official WHA79 side event was hosted in Geneva on May 21 by GlobalSkin, ILDS, Anesvad Foundation, and ILEP, with the leadership of Côte d’Ivoire and Togo. This event, entitled “From Resolution to Action: Implementing the Skin Diseases Resolution”, brought together global health leaders, policymakers, WHO representatives, and advocacy partners to discuss collaborative approaches for advancing implementation of the Skin Diseases Resolution and the draft WHO Global Action Plan on Skin Diseases.  

The WHO's public consultation on the draft Global Action Plan (GAP-SKIN) concluded on May 10 and it included participation from stakeholders across the skin disease community, including patient organizations. The development of the GAP-SKIN is a key component of the Skin Diseases Resolution adopted at the World Health Assembly in May 2025. It establishes a strategic framework to support national governments in developing skin disease policies and action plans. Leadership is being provided by WHO's Neglected Tropical Diseases and Malaria Department throughout the drafting and consultation process. 

On June 3, the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT) held an Exchange of Views on the prevention of skin diseases and the public health risks linked to sunbed use. The discussion included contributions from the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), Prof. Alexander Stratigos, and Prof. Aleksandra Lesiak.

GlobalSkin’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place on Tuesday, June 23, where we presented organizational updates, reports, and discussions on 2027 priorities to our membership. We were joined by more than 50 attendees who were active in their participation and engagement in this important governance meeting for our organization. We were pleased to be joined by guest speaker, Ravi Ram, Co-chair of the WHO Civil Society Commission, who shared how the Commission is shaping civil society engagement with the WHO. For Members who could not attend, the meeting recording is available in "Members Only" section of the GlobalSkin website for viewing.

GlobalSkin's Full Members took part in the governance of our alliance by voting in our Board election in June 2026. GlobalSkin wishes to thank the patient leaders who put their names forward for consideration in this election. We also wish to thank our Nominating Committee who oversaw the election process. 

The results of this election were announced at our AGM. GlobalSkin is pleased to welcome its newly elected/re-elected directors for 2026-2027:   

"UNITE" is the theme guiding preparations for the GlobalSkin Conference 2027, taking place June 3–5, 2027, in Montreal, Canada. As GlobalSkin’s flagship biennial gathering, the Conference offers opportunities for connection, learning, collaboration, and celebration. Bringing Members together from around the world, the Conference will focus on uniting the global skin diseases patient organization community around shared experiences and priorities in pursuit of a world where people living with dermatological conditions are healthy and fulfilled. 

Following the great success of recent years, GlobalSkin is proud to continue investing in the education and training of our members with the launch of the Patient Expert Scholarship on June 11. Thank you to everyone who submitted an application for the 2027 GlobalSkin Patient Expert Scholarship programme. The application period has now closed. The EUPATI Patient Expert Training Programme is an incredible opportunity for patient leaders to develop expertise in research, medicines development, regulatory processes, and healthcare decision-making.   

In February and March, GlobalSkin convened six regional workshops with Members worldwide to identify the key challenges and opportunities shaping skin patient advocacy, policy engagement, and implementation of the WHA Skin Diseases Resolution. The insights gathered were shared during an interactive Closing Webinar on May 28, where the major themes emerging across regions were presented and there were practical discussions on how to turn these findings into stronger advocacy, greater policy influence, and meaningful action for people living with skin diseases. 

On June 3, GlobalSkin hosted a new workshop, Working Groups: Driving Collaboration to Action. The intent of the workshop is to bring Members of GlobalSkins’ Working Groups from different regions, communities and councils together to learn and implement ways to strengthen collaboration, increase engagement, and support meaningful progress across the different networks. 

The GlobalSkin African, Latin American, and Asia-Pacific Regional Networks are currently working to determine their priorities for regional collaboration in 2026. Driving this work are the Members who make up each regional Working Group. These Groups have been hard at work leading and shaping their future, reviewing the Regional Engagement Reports, and drafting Network Projects for implementation in 2026.

On June 24, GlobalSkin's Young Patient Leaders (YPL) Council hosted a Coffee Chat focused on how skin patient organizations and advocates can leverage awareness days to educate, engage, and empower their communities. The discussion featured YPL Council Member Loise Bonyo, who shared her experiences raising awareness for vitiligo through the Royal Patches Foundation. 

The session brought together young advocates from around the world to exchange ideas, discuss common challenges faced by young people living with skin conditions, and explore practical approaches to raise awareness that can be adapted across diverse patient communities. Thank you to those who attended!

World Atopic Eczema Day on September 14, is a global moment to shine a light on atopic eczema and its impact on individuals, families, and caregivers. To support this important day, GlobalSkin established the World Atopic Eczema Day Fund—providing financial support to Member organizations to bring awareness and advocacy activities to life. We are delighted to offer this grant opportunity for the seventh consecutive year, continuing our shared commitment to driving impact and visibility worldwide!

The 2026 World Atopic Eczema Day Toolkit is also available to support your efforts. This toolkit includes key messages, advocacy guidance, and ready-to-use materials—such as social media assets, template letters, and press resources—to help amplify impact and engage communities, media, and policymakers. Access the Toolkit here! 

On June 18, GlobalSkin hosted an Atopic Eczema Community Coffee Chat, featuring Špela Novak of the Slovenian Atopic Dermatitis Association. The event titled, "Navigating Spaces as a Patient Leader", allowed our Atopic Eczema Community Members to connect with fellow advocates, share experiences, and learn from one another in a supportive environment. Patient leaders shared insights, and ideas as we discussed how to build confidence in advocacy settings, overcome imposter syndrome, elevate the issues that matter most, and create meaningful relationships with key stakeholders. 

Plans are underway for GlobalSkin Members to attend the upcoming International Symposium on Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD) in Beijing, China, October 17-19, and continue building on the success of our past participation. Working alongside the Atopic Eczema Advisory Committee, we are discussing the different ways our Community will be involved in the conference, including potential poster presentations, hosting a reception and GlobalSkin Member meeting, and partnering with other stakeholders to ensure the patient voice is at the forefront of the event.