Skin and Weather...

Skin and Climate

As the holiday season approaches and the weather changes, it may be difficult to remember the importance of taking care of your skin. While many of us can easily remedy this by slightly changing our cold-weather skin beauty routines or simply layering our winter clothing, many people around the world are suffering far greater skin reactions due to the climate change.

Dr. Sigfrid A. Muller, M.D., Emeritus Professor and Chair at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine is a practicing Dermatologist at Las Vegas Skin and Cancer Center.  Dr. Muller recently presented his skin research at the Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar, sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation. Dr. Muller believes “climate change is going to be the defining issue of the 21st century.” He is specifically interested in how climate change will effect dermatology and dermatological diseases.

As the climate changes in various countries around the world, animals and insects move to more desirable climates, taking their diseases with them. This has not only resulted in an increase rate of certain diseases, for example, the doubling of Malaria in Columbia, but has also allowed the new diseases to appear in countries where they have never before. Canada, for example, is now showing cases of Lyme disease, which is able to live because of its now warmer climate.

While more developed countries will be able to combat the increasing number of new skin diseases, underdeveloped countries will be unable to make the changes necessary to account for this. Dr. Muller’s research then asks the question, “how can we assist poorer countries so that they’ll be able to have a reasonable lifestyle now and in the future?”

As you enjoy your holidays, please remember that  while all of us will be effected by how climate changes our skin, there are those who may not have the means or access available to them to improve their skin. Wonderful looking skin is always the best winter coat and we encourage you to find many meaningful ways you can support global charities during this gift-giving season.