Skin conditions by the numbers

Acne

• Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually.¹

• Acne usually begins in puberty and affects many adolescents and young adults.

  • Approximately 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience at least minor acne.²

• Acne can occur at any stage of life and may continue into one’s 30s and 40s.^3-5

  • Acne occurring in adults is increasing, affecting up to 15 percent of women.^3-5

• In 2013, the costs associated with the treatment and lost productivity among those who sought medical care for acne exceeded $1.2 billion.⁶

  • More than 5.1 million people sought medical treatment for acne in 2013, primarily children and young adults.⁶

  • The lost productivity among patients and caregivers due to acne was nearly $400 million.⁶

Atopic dermatitis

• One in 10 people will develop atopic dermatitis during their lifetime.⁷

  • It affects up to 25 percent of children and 2 to 3 percent of adults.⁸

• An estimated 60 percent of people with this condition develop it in their first year of life, and 90 percent develop it before age 5. However, atopic dermatitis can begin during puberty or later.^8-9

• In 2013, the costs associated with the treatment and lost productivity among those who sought medical care for atopic dermatitis was $442 million.⁶

  • The total medical cost of treating atopic dermatitis was $314 million, for an average of $101.42 per treated patient.⁶

  • The lost productivity among patients and caregivers due to atopic dermatitis was $128 million.⁶

Hair loss

• The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary thinning or baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia.¹⁰

  • This condition affects an estimated 80 million Americans — 50 million men and 30 million women.¹¹

• Other Potential causes of hair loss, some of which are temporary, include:

  • Excessive or improper use of styling products such as perms, dyes, gels, relaxers or sprays, which can cause weathering or hair breakage.

  • Hairstyles that pull on the hair, like ponytails and braids.

  • Shampooing, combing or brushing hair too much or too hard

  • Hair pulling, which may be a sign of a disorder called trichotillomania.

  • A variety of diseases, including thyroid disease and lupus.

  • Childbirth, major surgery, high fever or severe infection, stress, or even the flu.

  • Inadequate protein or iron in the diet, or eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

  • Certain prescription drugs, including blood thinners, high-dose vitamin A, and medicines for arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems and high blood pressure.

  • Use of birth control pills (usually in women with an inherited tendency for hair thinning).

  • Hormonal imbalances, especially in women.

  • Ringworm of the scalp, a contagious fungal infection most common in children.

  • Some cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

  • Alopecia areata, a type of hair loss that can affect all ages and causes hair to fall out in round patches.¹²

Psoriasis 

• Approximately 7.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis.¹³

• Psoriasis occurs in all age groups but is primarily seen in adults, with the highest proportion between ages 45 and 64.⁶

• Approximately 25-30 percent of people with psoriasis experience joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.^14-16

• Approximately 80 percent of those affected with psoriasis have mild to moderate disease, while 20 percent have moderate to severe psoriasis affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface area.¹³

• The most common form of psoriasis, affecting about 80 to 90 percent of psoriasis patients, is plaque psoriasis. It is characterized by patches of raised, reddish skin covered with silvery-white scale.¹³

• In 2013, the total direct cost of treatment associated with psoriasis was estimated to be between $51.7 billion and $63.2 billion.⁶

Rosacea

• Rosacea is a common skin disease that affects 16 million Americans.^17-19

• While people of all ages and races can develop rosacea, it is most common in the following groups:

  • People between age 30 and 60.²⁰

  • Individuals with fair skin, blond hair and blue eyes.^20-21

  • Women, especially during menopause.²⁰

  • Those with a family history of rosacea.²¹

• In 2013, the costs associated with the treatment and lost productivity among those who sought medical care for rosacea was $243 million.⁶

  • More than 1.6 million people sought treatment for rosacea in 2013.⁶

  • The total medical cost of treating rosacea was $165 million, for an average of $102.26 per treated patient.⁶

  • The lost productivity among patients and caregivers due to rosacea was $78 million.⁶

See more skin conditions by the numbers:

• Indoor Tanning

• Melanoma

• Skin Cancer

• Sunscreen

• Vitamin D

Related AAD resources

Want to know what dermatologists tell their patients about managing conditions that affect the skin, hair, or nails? You’ll find their expertise and insight in Diseases and conditions.

¹Bickers DR, Lim HW, Margolis D, Weinstock MA, Goodman C, Faulkner E et al. The burden of skin diseases: 2004 a joint project of the American Academy of Dermatology Association and the Society for Investigative Dermatology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2006;55:490-500.

²Bhate K, Williams HC. Epidemiology of acne vulgaris. The British journal of dermatology 2013;168:474-85.

³Holzmann R , Shakery K. Postadolescent acne in females. Skin pharmacology and physiology 2014;27 Suppl 1:3-8.

⁴Khunger N , Kumar C. A clinico-epidemiological study of adult acne: is it different from adolescent acne? Indian journal of dermatology, venereology and leprology 2012;78:335-41.

⁵Tanghetti EA, Kawata AK, Daniels SR, Yeomans K, Burk CT , Callender VD. Understanding the Burden of Adult Female Acne. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology 2014;7:22-30.

⁶American Academy of Dermatology/Milliman. Burden of Skin Disease. 2017. www.aad.org/BSD.

⁷Abuabara K, Magyari A, McCulloch CE, Linos E, Margolis DJ, Langan SM. Prevalence of Atopic Eczema Among Patients Seen in Primary Care: Data From The Health Improvement Network. Ann Intern Med. 2018. [Epub ahead of print ] doi: 10.7326/M18-2246.

⁸Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Chamlin SL, Feldman SR, Hanifin JM, Simpson EL, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. Diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Feb;70(2):338-51. 

⁹Beltrani VS, Boguneiwicz M. Atopic dermatitis. Dermatol Online J 2003;9(2):1.

¹⁰Rossi A, Anzalone A, Fortuna MC, Caro G, Garelli V, Pranteda G et al. Multi-therapies in androgenetic alopecia: review and clinical experiences. Dermatologic therapy 2016;29:424-32.​

¹¹Genetics Home Reference. National Institutes of Health U.S. Library of Medicine. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/androgenetic-alopecia#statistics. Accessed March 30, 2018.​

¹²Dainichi T , Kabashima K. Alopecia areata: What's new in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic options? Journal of dermatological science 2017;86:3-12.

¹³Menter A, Gottlieb A, Feldman SR, Van Voorhees AS et al. Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: Section 1. Overview of psoriasis and guidelines of care for the treatment of psoriasis with biologics. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008 May;58(5):826-50. 

¹⁴Ranza R et al. Prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in a large cohort of Brazilian patients with psoriasis. J Rheumatol. 2015 May;42(5):829-34. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.140474

¹⁵Mease PJ et al. Prevalence of rheumatologist-diagnosed psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis in European/North American dermatology clinics. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Nov;69(5):729-735. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.07.023

¹⁶Alinaghi F et al. Prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational and clinical studies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Published online June 18, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.06.027.

¹⁷Steinhoff, M., Schauber, J., and Leyden, J.J. New insights into rosacea pathophysiology: a review of recent findings. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013; 69: S15–S26.

¹⁸Elewski, B.E., Draelos, Z., Dréno, B., Jansen, T., Layton, A., and Picardo, M. Rosacea - global diversity and optimized outcome: proposed international consensus from the Rosacea International Expert Group. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011; 25: 188–200.

¹⁹Okhovat, J.-P. and Armstrong, A.W. Updates in rosacea: epidemiology, risk factors, and management strategies. Curr Dermatol Rep. 2014; 3: 23–28.

²⁰Rosacea. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rosacea#tab-risk.

²¹Abram K, Silm H, Maaroos H-I and Oona M. Risk factors associated with rosacea. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2010; 24 (5): 565-571.