Congressus Mundi Dermatologiae Paris 1889-Paris 2002.

Twenty International congresses for dermatology and sexually transmitted diseases were held between 1889 and 2002. The number of attendees and the subjects discussed during such congresses progressively increased in number and quality. The continuous progress and development in the knowledge presented year after year was a natural reflection of development in science, culture, and social standard of the countries that hosted these congresses. In this paper, we highlight the achievements of the great universal figures in dermatology who contributed to its progress, and the important milestones of scientific development that will remain as history and references for the future generation.