epidemiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

epidemiology

Contact dermatitis accounts for 4–7% of dermatological consultations.

  • a cross sectional study across five European countries reported a prevalence of 8.2%
  • changing lifestyles and increasing product consumption has lead to the rising incidence of the condition
  • irritant contact dermatitis is more common than allergic contact dermatitis. However allergic contact dermatitis carries a worse prognosis if the allergen is not identified and avoided (1,2)

 It is responsible for 70-90% of all occupational skin diseases.

  • according to the UK EPIDERM surveillance scheme, dermatitis makes up 79% of all occupational skin disease (OSD)
  • highest risk professions for developing contact dermatitis include:
    • florists
    • hairdressers
    • beauticians
    • cooks
    • metalworkers, and other manufacturing related workers
    • healthcare related occupations
      • frequent hand washing has been recognised as the cause
      • recent survey reported a 4% prevalence of hand dermatitis in healthcare workers (1,2)

The prevalence of contact allergy to specific allergens in the general population in Europe has been estimated at between 10% and 27%. Common allergens include:

  • nickel (14.5%)
  • fragrance (3.7%)
  • cobalt (2.2%)
  • hydroxyisohexyl cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (1.4%)
  • p-phenylenediamine (PPD) (1%) (2)

The prevalence of contact dermatitis in children is unclear.

  • positive patch-test reaction rates between 27% to 95% have been reported
  • most common allergens reported in North American children are nickel, neomycin, cobalt, fragrance and Myroxylon pereirae (2)

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