Beauty Industry

L’Oreal Group and WHO Foundation Partner to Improve Skin Health

The 4-year partnership will expand access to skin treatments focusing on low- and middle-income settings.

March 25, 2025

Assistant Editor

The WHO Foundation and the L’Oréal Groupe’s Dermatological Beauty Division have entered a four-year partnership to expand access to the treatment of skin conditions worldwide.

With a focus on low- and middle-income settings, the partnership will accelerate the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) efforts to support countries to address skin conditions such as those caused by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), those exacerbated by climate change and other common conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and vitiligo.

Myriam Cohen-Welgryn, President, L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty, said,

“L’Oréal Act for Dermatology represents our unwavering commitment to helping improve the lives of billions of people suffering from the physical, mental, and emotional burden of skin diseases, by addressing the challenges they face in accessing skin health services for their condition.”

This partnership will help to widen surveillance of skin diseases and train health workers to identify early symptoms.

WHO will also develop training materials for health workers, including the WHO Skin NTDs App, and provide training for health workers on common skin conditions.

Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director of the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme at WHO, commented,

“Many neglected tropical diseases first show symptoms on the skin, and early detection can be vital. At this critical time, support and solidarity are needed to provide access to diagnosis and treatment so that people suffering from skin NTDs and other common skin diseases are not left behind.”

The WHO Foundation will facilitate the collaboration between WHO and L’Oréal, amplify the need for enhanced access to skin healthcare, share knowledge and best practices around skin health, and call for additional partners to contribute to this critical work.

Anil Soni, Chief Executive Officer, WHO Foundation said

“This program is another great example of how public and private partners can unite around a common aim. In brokering this initiative, the WHO Foundation is helping to further WHO’s mission to improve the health of vulnerable people, while also aligning with L’Oréal’s goal to raise the standard of skin health across the world.”

The partnership is launching when skin health is on the global health agenda, and the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025 is expected to discuss a resolution on skin diseases as a global health priority.