According to a study commissioned by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), nearly 50% of the European population is affected by a disease or infection of the skin.
What are the most common skin diseases?
When the preliminary results were presented at the 30th annual EADV congress, it was confirmed that skin damage is very common. They show that 47.9% of the adult European population has already been affected by a dermatological problem during the past 12 months. To obtain these figures, the researchers collected data from 44,689 people aged over 18 in 27 countries of the European Union, but also in Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom. Even if the authors have, for the moment, analyzed only the data of 21,401 participants, they are already authorized to unveil the first conclusions.
Leading the way are fungal infections, such as yeast infection, often caused by a fungus. Almost one in ten people, or 9.07% of them, have suffered from such an infection in the past year.
Two dermatitis also commonly make Europeans suffer at the same level: eczema and acne. In fact, about one in twenty people are affected by one or the other of these conditions. Eczema affects approximately 5.34% of European adults and acne 5.49% of them. Eczema is characterized by the presence of red, dry patches, which can form small blisters that turn into scabs when the patient scratches them. As for acne, it manifests itself by oily skin as well as the presence of blackheads and pimples on the face, but also sometimes on the back or chest.
One of the most common diseases is alopecia. It is an abnormal loss of hair or hair, often located in the scalp or even the beard. It then forms completely hairless areas.
Finally, 20% of the volunteers studied have already had to consult a specialist doctor, because of unpleasant sensations on the skin, such as tightness or itching.
Skin problems must become a priority
Thanks to their analyzes, and even if they still lack data, the researchers managed to make a projection on the 408 million European adults. According to them, more than 195 million of them could be affected by at least one skin disease. These skin conditions can be stigmatizing for the patient in addition to having a real impact on their quality of life. Now that they know the prevalence of skin diseases in Europe, Professor of dermatology, skin cancerology and venereology, Marie-Aleth Richard, explains that “ The fact that one in two people in Europe live with a skin disease on a daily basis makes it the most affected organ in the body and, as an organization, we are therefore committed to making skin diseases. the skin a public health priority. “
