Consensus Statement Establishes Global Collaboration Between Skin Health and Aging Experts to Advance a Life Course of Healthy Skin

The new statement was released at the 21st World Congress of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, the leading global gathering of experts in aging

SAN FRANCISCO (July 24, 2017) – In a groundbreaking new consensus statement, three leading global organizations in dermatology and aging together affirmed the critical importance of healthy skin to achieving healthy and active aging. The Consensus Statement on a Life Course of Healthy Skin was co-signed by the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS), the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), and the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) and released today at the 21st IAGG World Congress, in San Francisco, the largest gathering of aging experts in the world.

“Many of us in Gerontology and Geriatrics have understood that skin changes remarkably with advancing age but have underestimated the unique value of skin as a model of the interaction of normal senescence and lifestyle factors to yield ‘accelerated aging,’” said Dr. John Rowe, Julius B. Richmond Professor of Health Policy and Aging, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia, and incoming Chairman of IAGG. “At the same time, we have underestimated the tremendous opportunity for prevention and amelioration of age and lifestyle-related changes in skin, our largest organ.”

The Consensus Statement calls attention to 21st century demographic change and the accompanying shift in our understanding of health, which must focus not just on the absence of disease or treating illness, per se, but on the maintenance of functional ability. Functional ability, which the World Health Organization (WHO) defines as our ability to be and to do what we have reason to value, is the centerpiece of the WHO Ageing and Health Strategy.

“We are delighted to be aligning with IAGG and ILDS,” said Michael Hodin, PhD, CEO of GCOA. “With this Consensus Statement, we are able to focus on the opportunities to bend the curve on skin aging, which is essential as we experience 21st century longevity.”

The three organizations pledged to partner with the WHO and national public health authorities to advance a life course of healthy skin. The organizations also committed to partner across disciplines and regions to advance the Seven Principles of Healthy Skin. Released earlier this year by the American Skin Association, the Principles are a set of easy-to-follow guidelines to ensure skin wellness across the life course.

“With increasing longevity, maintaining skin wellness throughout our lives becomes more important,” said Prof. Harvey Lui, President of the ILDS and himself a global expert in dermatology. “At the ILDS, we have identified and committed to a life course of healthy skin as one of our Grand Challenges in Global Skin Health, and therefore, it is a natural step to partner with IAGG and GCOA on this Consensus Statement. Along with the expectation that our children and grandchildren will likely live longer lives, achieving, and maintaining healthy skin over a lifetime will be even more essential in the years to come for reducing suffering due to age-related changes and disorders affecting the skin.”

About the International League of Dermatological Societies

The International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) is a unique non-governmental organisation which promotes the global advancement of dermatological care, education, and science. Bringing together over 160 member societies from more than 80 countries worldwide, the ILDS is collectively able to draw on the expertise of more than 100,000 dermatology specialists around the world. Through this network, the ILDS aims to recognize and harmonize the rich spectrum of approaches to skin health and disease that exist throughout the world. For more information, visit www.ilds.org.

About the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics

The mission of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics is to promote the highest levels of achievement in gerontological research and training worldwide, and to interact with other international, inter-governmental, and non-governmental organizations in the promotion of gerontological interests globally and on behalf of its member associations. The Association pursues these activities with a view of enhancing the highest quality of life and well being of all people as they experience ageing at individual and societal levels. IAGG has 73 member organizations in over 65 countries worldwide with a combined membership of over 45,100 professionals.

Latest Developments

We keep our members and partners in touch with the most recent updates and opinions in the worldwide dialogue on population longevity and related issues.

Joe Biden’s ‘Cancer Moonshot’ May be Derailed by New Policies, Including His Own

For almost a decade, President Biden has championed a bold “cancer moonshot” — an initiative he first launched in 2016, revived early in his administration, and reiterated during this year’s State of the Union. It is a laudable goal, especially for an aging nation where cancer and chronic disease are on the rise. There’s just one problem: Recent federal and state policies are poised to derail the incredible progress made in oncology since 2016. A rash of policies now threatens to limit access and slow progress towards new breakthroughs.

Global Coalition on Aging, Leading G7 Government Officials, Call for Incentivized Antibiotic Innovation

The Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA), in partnership with the Japanese Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA), and public health leaders call on G7 governments to fund pull incentives and make “fair share” investments in antibiotic innovation to fight the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. GCOA, JPMA, and health and government officials from the European Union, Italy, Japan, and United Kingdom recently convened to discuss how G7 countries must respond. GCOA today published a report detailing takeaways from the closed-door meeting, “The Role of G7 Governments in Global Efforts to Encourage Antimicrobial Development Through a Pull Incentive: Challenges and Collaboration.”

Kishida and Biden Face a Similar Demographic Crisis

Your front page story “Japan wrestles with age-old problem as population declines at record rate” (Report, April 13) and the letter in the same edition from Tim Hill, “A gently declining population is no reason to panic”, both describe what all societies face as they modernise in the 21st century.

2024 AMR Preparedness Index Progress Report Highlights Urgent Need For Global Action Against Antimicrobial Resistance

Today, the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) launched the 2024 AMR Preparedness Index Progress Report. Released in the lead up to the United Nations General Assembly 2024 High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) this September, the 2024 Progress Report assesses how the eleven largest global economies have advanced on calls to action laid out in the 2021 AMR Preparedness Index.

New Global Analysis Across Five Cities Shows Inequities in Adult Immunization Uptake, Signaling Need to Redesign Local and National Policy Interventions

GSK, in collaboration with the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA), announced a new report from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science (IQVIA Institute). The report, funded by GSK, explores the role of social and structural determinants of health in adult vaccine access and uptake across five global cities with strong data about their aging populations: Bangkok, Thailand; Brussels, Belgium; Chicago, US; Manchester, United Kingdom; and New York City, US.

New Report From the Global Coalition on Aging Highlights the Connection Between Adult Immunization and Economic Health in Aging APEC Region

As leaders from across the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region convene in San Francisco over the next week, a new report from the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) points to investments in healthy aging as a growing economic imperative amid the region’s changing demographics. According to the new report, programs that keep populations healthy, active, and productive – like adult immunization – are increasingly becoming a prerequisite for economic stability and growth.