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:
- 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.
- 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
- Rashid RS, Shim TN. Contact dermatitis. BMJ. 2016;353:i3299.
- 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.