University part of global declaration on skin health

The University of Manchester has played a leading role in the creation of a new global declaration to tackle the serious problems caused by poor skin health.

The consensus statement was announced on Thursday 4 December by the International League of Dermatological Studies (ILDS) and the Global Coalition on Ageing as a response to the growing skin problems associated with ageing. These include infection, skin fragility and ulceration, intractable dryness of the skin and itching and skin cancer which have a health, psychological and economic impact on millions of people.

"Skin is our first line of defence, but as we age, it becomes less elastic, dryer and thinner and therefore less protective," said Professor Christopher Griffiths, Foundation Professor of Dermatology at The University of Manchester and Board Member of the ILDS. 

"For too long, skin health has been neglected on the global ageing agenda.  Our collective vision is one in which a life course approach to skin health leads to wellness, improved quality of life and enhanced social value."

One in every three cancers diagnosed is skin cancer.  One in two people over the age of 65 suffers from intense dryness of the skin, which can lead to infection and wounds.  Dermatological side effects occur in up to 80 percent of patients receiving cancer treatments.  In addition to the physical effects and medical costs, these conditions have psychological effects and impact quality of life.  

As a result of the 2014 ‘Manchester Summit: A Life Course of Active Ageing and Healthy Skin’, experts in ageing and dermatology have developed a consensus statement outlining their commitment to furthering global leadership in skin health, particularly in skin ageing, as there will be 1 billion people over 60 globally by 2020. 

"As lifespans increase and birth-rates decrease, conditions that are widely associated with growing older, including the deterioration of our skin, become more prevalent," said Dr Michael Hodin, Executive Director of the Global Coalition on Aging.

"Twenty-first century demographics demand a new approach and call for a new diverse group of partners to focus on keeping us healthy and active at each stage of life and as a result drive efficiencies in healthcare costs and contribute to a more fiscally sustainable economy."

The consensus statement calls for analysis of the economic and fiscal impact of skin ageing if no action is taken, development of a research agenda, establishment of a network of global Centres of Excellence on skin health, and collaboration and partnership among the dermatology and ageing communities across regions globally. This call-to-action will promote the importance of skin health, with the goal of making skin health a top priority on the global ageing agenda.  

The commitment of the Life Course of Healthy Skin Global Partnership began during the first-ever gathering of academics, global thought leaders and cross-sector business stakeholders on the topic of healthy skin and active aging in Manchester, in June 2014.  Manchester is now at the forefront of this 21st-century demographic revolution, helped in no small part by the work of the University.

This includes the University’s Centre for Dermatology which comprises clinical and basic scientists investigating skin cell physiology and disease, alongside associated research carried out by health psychologists.  The consensus also involved researchers from The Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA) which promotes interdisciplinary research on all aspects of ageing with access to a network of over 1,200 academics, practitioners, policy makers and older people.

"The Manchester Summit was the first bold step to align medical, business, government, NGO and academic communities to create and implement local and global strategies to encourage healthy skin ageing," said Humberto C. Antunes, President and CEO of Galderma and the Summit's supporting partner.

"We encourage other companies and organisations to join us in our commitment to pursuing this innovative agenda and welcome the opportunity for diverse interdisciplinary partnerships and dialogues."

The full global consensus statement and press release is available here (PDF).

Notes for editors

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