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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