Epidemiology

Epidemiology

Contact dermatitis accounts for 4–7% of dermatological consultations. (1)

In one meta-analysis of 28 studies and over 20,000 individuals, the worldwide prevalence of contact dermatitis in the general population is estimated to be 20.1% (2)

• 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 (1,3)

It is responsible for 70-90% of all occupational skin diseases.(4)

• 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
    • surveys report a 4% prevalence of hand dermatitis in healthcare workers (1,3)

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: (4)

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

The prevalence of contact dermatitis in children is unclear.

Reference:

1. Johnston GA, Exton LS, Mohd Mustapa MF, et al. British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis 2017. Br J Dermatol. 2017 Feb;176(2):317-29.
2. Alinaghi F, Bennike NH, Egeberg A, et al. Prevalence of contact allergy in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Contact Dermatitis. 2019 Feb;80(2):77-85
3. Rashid RS, Shim TN. Contact dermatitis. BMJ. 2016;353:i3299.
4. Pesonen M, Jolanki R, Larese Filon F, et al. Patch test results of the European baseline series among patients with occupational contact dermatitis across Europe: analyses of the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergy network, 2002-2010. Contact Dermatitis. 2015 Mar;72(3):154-63.