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
Skin cancer
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.22-23
It is estimated that more than 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.24-26
The majority of diagnosed skin cancers are NMSCs. Research estimates that NSMC affects more than 3 million Americans a year.6, 24
The overall incidence of BCC increased by 145 percent between 1976-1984 and 2000-2010, and the overall incidence of SCC increased 263 percent over that same period.27
Women had the greatest increase in incidence rates for both types of NMSC.27
NMSC incidence rates are increasing in people younger than 40.27
More than 1 million Americans are living with melanoma.28
It is estimated that 192,310 new cases of melanoma, 95,830 noninvasive (in situ) and 96,480 invasive, will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2019.25-26
Invasive melanoma is projected to be the fifth most common cancer for both men (57,220 cases) and women (39,260 cases) in 2019.25-26
Melanoma rates in the United States doubled from 1982 to 2011 and have continued to increase.23, 26
Caucasians and men older than 50 have an increased risk of developing melanoma compared to the general population.25-26
Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of skin color.
Skin cancer in patients with skin of color is often diagnosed in its later stages, when it’s more difficult to treat.30
Research has shown that patients with skin of color are less likely than Caucasian patients to survive melanoma.31
People with skin of color are prone to skin cancer in areas that aren’t commonly exposed to the sun, like the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, the groin and the inside of the mouth. They also may develop melanoma under their nails.30
Nearly 20 Americans die from melanoma every day. In 2019, it is estimated that 7,230 deaths will be attributed to melanoma — 4,740 men and 2,490 women.25-26
The five-year survival rate for people whose melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 98 percent.25-26
The five-year survival rate for melanoma that spreads to nearby lymph nodes is 64 percent. The five-year survival rate for melanoma that spreads to distant lymph nodes and other organs is 23 percent.25-26, 29
The annual cost of treating skin cancers in the U.S. is estimated at $8.1 billion — about $4.8 billion for NMSC and $3.3 billion for melanoma.22
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
22Guy GP, Machlin SR, Ekwueme DU, Yabroff KR. Prevalence and costs of skin cancer treatment in the US, 2002-2006 and 2007-2011. Am J Prev Med. 2015;48:183–7.
23Guy GP, Thomas CC, Thompson T, Watson M, Massetti GM, Richardson LC. Vital signs: Melanoma incidence and mortality trends and projections—United States, 1982–2030. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(21):591-596.
24Rogers HW, Weinstock MA, Feldman SR, Coldiron BM. Incidence estimate of nonmelanoma skin cancer (keratinocyte carcinomas) in the US population. JAMA Dermatol. Published online April 30, 2015.
25American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2019. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2019.
26Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2019. CA Cancer J Clin. 2019; doi: 10.3322/caac.21551.
27Muzic, JG et al. Incidence and Trends of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Population-Based Study in Olmstead County, Minnesota, 2000-2010. Mayo Clin Proc. Published Online May 15, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.02.015
28SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Melanoma of the Skin. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html
29Noone AM, Howlader N, Krapcho M, Miller D, Brest A, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z, Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2015, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2015/, based on November 2017 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, April 2018.
30Agbai ON, Buster K, Sanchez M, Hernandez C, Kundu RV, Chiu M, Roberts WE, Draelos ZD, Bhushan R, Taylor SC, Lim HW. Skin cancer and photoprotection in people of color: a review and recommendations for physicians and the public. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(4):748-62.
31Dawes SM et al. Racial disparities in melanoma survival. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Nov; 75(5):983-991.
