Table 1.
Epidemiology of selected chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
| Disease | Prevalence rate | Sex distribution | Ethnic/geographic predisposition | Notable trends | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atopic dermatitis | 10–30% in children and 2–10% in adults | Almost equal sex distribution | Higher in high-income countries | Two- to three-fold increase over the past several decades | (6–8) |
| Psoriasis | 2–3% | Equally prevalent in both sexes | Most common in populations of northern Europe and least common in eastern Asia | An apparent upward trend is observed in several countries | (9–11) |
| Prurigo nodularis | 0.1% | Higher among females | None | Increasing incidence over time | (12, 13) |
| Lichen planus | 0.2–1.3% | Equally prevalent in both sexes | • CLP: equally prevalent in both sexes • MLP: more frequent in the female population • LPP: more frequent in the female population | NA | (14, 15) |
| Hidradenitis suppurativa | 0.1–1.3% | Overall almost equal distribution, but varies between races | Higher in African Americans | NA | (16–18) |
| Alopecia areata | 2% | Slightly higher among females | Higher in African American and Hispanics | The incidence is increasing over time | (19) |
| Vitiligo | 0.2–1.8% | Higher among females | Higher prevalence in African nations | Constant or decreasing frequency in the past decades | (20) |
| Chronic spontaneous urticaria | 0.1–1.4% | Slightly higher among females | Higher prevalence in Asian nations | Increasing incidence over time | (21) |
| Pemphigus | Orphan | Higher among females | Higher in Ashkenazi Jewish and Mediterranean population | Inconsistent findings | (22, 23) |
| Bullous pemphigoid | Orphan | Higher among females | None | 1.9- to 4.3-fold rise over the past two decades | (24) |
| Mucous membrane pemphigoid | Orphan | Higher among females | None | NA | (23) |
| Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita | Orphan | Equally prevalent in both sexes | HLA-DR2 and HLA-DRB1*15:03-associated susceptibility among Africans | NA | (23, 25, 26) |
| Cryopyrin-Associated periodic syndrome | Orphan | Equally prevalent in both sexes | None | NA | (27, 28) |
| Schnitzler's syndrome | Orphan | Higher among males | None | NA | (29, 30) |
| Cutaneous lupus erythematosus | Orphan | Higher among females | Higher in Māori/Pacific population | NA | (31, 32) |
| Dermatomyositis | Orphan | Higher among females | Higher among Africans and Hispanics | Increasing incidence over time | (33, 34) |
| Systemic sclerosis | Orphan | Higher among females | Higher among Africans and Hispanics | Increasing incidence over time | (34, 35) |
Orphan, Disease prevalence 5/10,000 or less; NA, not applicable.