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Topics from the tropics at conference on skin health
View(s):The burden of skin diseases is increasing at an alarming rate in tropical regions where nearly 40% of the world’s population lives.
It is in this important context that the Second International Conference on Tropical Dermatology – ICTD 2026 on ‘Topics from Tropics’ – will be held in Sri Lanka from March 11-14.
“Tropical dermatological conditions are often unique, complex and challenging to manage. These diseases are no longer confined to tropical countries alone,” stressed the President of the Sri Lanka College of Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine (SLCDA), Dr. Nayani Madarasinghe who is also the Organizing Chairperson of ICTD 2026.
The core Organizing Committee
Before getting into the wide and varied aspects of ICTD 2026, she said that with increasing global travel and migration, dermatologists worldwide are encountering tropical skin diseases with growing frequency. As such, a sound knowledge of tropical dermatology has become an “invaluable asset” to every dermatologist.
ICTD 2026, she promises, will be an enriching academic experience, with distinguished clinicians and researchers sharing their expertise through lectures covering a wide range of topics.
ICTD 2026 Chairperson Dr. Nayani Madarasinghe
According to Dr. Madarasinghe in-depth discussions will focus on tropical infections such as leprosy, leishmaniasis and dermatophytosis. Beyond infections, the programme will also explore important areas including pigmentary disorders, environmental dermatology and cultural dermatology.
A special pre-congress session on ‘Aesthetics in Skin of Colour’ will address critical considerations in aesthetic treatments for patients with skin of colour, it is learnt, in addition, to a Dermoscopy Workshop, which would be a valuable learning opportunity.
Another highlight will be the post-congress clinical meeting at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), Colombo, featuring a wide spectrum of patients with tropical skin diseases. Participants would have the opportunity to examine cases, exchange ideas and enhance clinical expertise.
Dr. Madarasinghe explained that tropical dermatoses include a wide diversity of dermatological problems that are unique in environmental and biological aspects, in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The economic, social and cultural aspects are also different in the tropics, with a great variation in the pattern of diseases and their prevalence.
ICTD 2026 Secretary General Dr. Nuwangika Marcellin
Therefore, the ICTD mainly focuses on tropical dermatoses with the aim of sharing knowledge among fellow dermatologists worldwide and creating avenues for research, new therapeutics and better patient care.
It was in 2016 that the SLCDA, earlier known as the Sri Lanka College of Dermatologists (SLCD), took the initiative of organizing the first ICTD in Colombo. Plans to hold the second in 2020 had to be shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Second ICTD 2026 this March is a joint academic event organized by the SLCDA and Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG – German Dermatological Society).
The conference will see 313 international delegates from over 25 countries across Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America, Africa and South America and 151 local attendees participating. The largest teams from abroad include 60 from Bangladesh; 59 from India and 41 from Germany, with strong representation from Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and Indonesia. Other delegates are due from the Netherlands, Canada, Japan, the United States of America (USA), Kenya, Brazil and several other regions.
Meanwhile, the conference will feature 47 speakers from 18 countries, with 13, the largest representation, from India and eight from Germany. The academic profile also includes experts from the UK, USA, Australia, Sri Lanka and several other countries.
“ICTD 2026 highlights the collaborative spirit that drives progress in global dermatology. The diverse international perspectives brought by our speakers from Sri Lanka and around the world will foster meaningful dialogue, innovative research exchange and impactful partnerships aimed at improving skin health worldwide,” added Dr. Madarasinghe. (KH)
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