On November 10, “The Lancet Commission on the Transitioning Spectrum of Skin Diseases” (hereafter referred to as the Report), led by the team from Xiangya School of Medicine (Furong Laboratory) of Central South University, was officially launched in Beijing, China. This marksThe Lancet’s first major report on skin health and diseases in its two-century history. Scheduled for release within the next two years, the Report aims to establish a scientific framework and action plan for global skin health governance.
Globally, skin diseases affect more than 4 billion people and ranked among the leading causes of years lived with disability (YLDs) in 2021. Yet, less than 1% of global health funding has been allocated to this field.As socioeconomic transitions accelerate worldwide, the spectrum of skin diseases has shifted markedly from infectious to non-infectious conditions, such as inflammatory skin diseases and skin cancers/melanoma.In May 2025, the World Health Assembly, for the first time, recognized “skin diseases” as a global public health priority. Given this, it is imperative for global interdisciplinary collaboration between fields such as dermatology and epidemiology to establish an integrated prevention-treatment framework for skin health. This framework should be embedded within the co-management structure for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). It should also set stratified and feasible targets for reducing age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and major comorbidities, and develop time-bound implementation plans along with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to systematically advance global skin health.
Led by Chen Xiang, Professor of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, the Report is co-chaired by Professor Chen, Professor Esther E. Freeman of Harvard Medical School, and Professor Sinéad M. Langan of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The Report will, against the backdrop of global socioeconomic transformation, focus on the shifting burden of skin diseases from infectious to non-infectious conditions, including inflammatory skin diseases and skin cancers/melanomas. It will analyze historical trends in disease spectrum evolution, investigate underlying causes, and explore response strategies. The aim is to develop phased, measurable, and accountable policy toolkits and national-level implementation plans to advance equitable access to skin health care and improve health outcomes worldwide. In addition to the Report, the team will introduce a national-level “Skin Health Scorecard”, implement pilot programs in multiple countries, and advance the implementation of global skin health strategies.
Leading experts from more than ten countries participated in the launch event, joining the discussions both online and in person. Participants included Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief ofThe Lancet, and Helena Wang, Asia Senior Executive Editor ofThe Lancet. The event also brought together experts from home and abroad, including the University of KwaZulu-Natal, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Nepal, Henry Ford Hospital, The Australasian College of Dermatologists, Monash University, Father Muller Medical College of India, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital of Nigeria, Rwanda Dermatology Society, University of São Paulo, University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Oxford, and Peking University, as well as the team from the Department of Dermatology of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University.
Founded in 1923, the dermatology discipline at Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, is among the earliest Western medicine dermatology specialties in China. It is now recognized as one of the leading disciplines nationwide in clinical care, research, and education. It has established distinctive clinical and research strengths in areas such as skin tumors, psoriasis, facial disfiguring dermatoses, allergic skin diseases, aging and hair regeneration, forming an integrated ecosystem that connects clinical practice, education, research, and translational innovation in skin health.
(First review: Fan Hongyang; second review: Tang Xiaojun; third review: Wang Jianxiang)
