The International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology (IACD) is delighted to return to Malta for its 20th Anniversary World Congress. We have fond memories of our inaugural meeting held in Malta in 1999 which set the tone with its impressive scientific program and outstanding social
activities. The Officers and Board of Directors look forward to returning to this superb venue and to a most informative Congress and remarkable Maltese hospitality.

Lawrence C. Parish MD MD(Hon) FRCP(Edin)
President, International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology

It has been more than 2 years ago since the World Congress of the IACD was planned to happen in my hometown Dresden, Germany, also known as  Florence on the Elbe River. Many efforts had been made and a programme of high scientific impact was created with the support of ICAD and many colleagues from all over the world. But with early spring 2020, the first wave of SARS-CoV-2-pandemic hit Europe, and the lockdown spread. While we hoped to have the congress in 2021, other waves of the pandemic made it not happen. Nevertheless, the spirit of the World Congresses of IACD has never been lost. With the new location on the Isle of Malta and the leadership of distinguished ​colleague Joseph Pace, who chaired the inaugural IACD Malta Congress in 1999​, and his crew, the dreams ​will surely ​come true. We all hope to celebrate Cosmetic Dermatology again and continue the long line of successful and memorable events. Friendship, science, and social life will find a new start under the Mediterranean sun. It has become more important than ever that people of many different countries meet in a peaceful way to exchange ideas and experiences. Congratulations to the scientific committee for a superb programme. I wish – and I am sure it will happen – a most successful congress.

Prof. Dr. Uwe Wollina, Dresden
Hon. Congress President

On behalf of my colleagues, it is a great pleasure to invite you to join us in Malta for the 20th Anniversary World Congress of the International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology. This will be the first large face-to-face Dermatology meeting in our country after the pandemic. We have worked hard to overcome logistical problems and put together an interesting and informative scientific programme. We promise you the warmest of welcomes to our beautiful country and look forward to seeing you!

Michael J. Boffa MD, FRCP, MSc
President, IACD 20th Anniversary Congress
Past-President, MADV and Chair, Dept of Dermatology & Venereology, Mater Dei Hospital

Thank you, Larry, and Thank you Uwe for your kind words of encouragement. This will indeed be a Congress with a difference, impacted in various ways by both the Covid pandemic and even more worryingly the terrible events in Eastern Europe. Our solidarity, our love, and our prayers go to the brave people of Ukraine in their time of suffering when they were put to the test and not found wanting. We also keep in mind all those who lost their lives, most on the principle of love of their country, but many others used as cannon fodder, without knowing why they were at war.

Together with my marvellous team, we have worked hard to address the seemingly endless logistical problems that have arisen, most of which have been successfully negotiated, with us finally being in the position to make the website active this very week. We have, together with Uwe Wollina, agreed to utilise the core scientific programme prepared in such detail for the Dresden meeting ( see the invitation to Dresden speakers) for which we are most grateful. We will continue our efforts to enable our profession to recover from the adversity of the last two years and resume the personal exchange of medical advances and science, as well as the camaraderie that has been the hallmark of IACD meetings since 1999. With your active participation and support, we hope not to be found wanting! In this situation, flexibility has to be the order of the day as events unfold here, there, and everywhere. This applies to the scientific programme in particular and this will be finalised later once final confirmations have been received.

Together with my colleagues in MADV, I wish to extend a warm welcome to all registrants and accompanying persons so that, together, we can make this a meeting to remember, again.

Prof. Joseph Pace