Eczema Stats

Help us raise awareness for eczema by sharing accurate statistics and data. Here are key eczema facts to help the public understand this chronic skin condition.

Eczema facts and statistics

The National Eczema Association (NEA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that works to improve the health and quality of life of those affected by eczema. One of our goals is to raise eczema awareness to help everyone see the impact of this skin disease on patients and families, while also working to reduce stigma and build compassion. To support these awareness efforts, we have compiled key statistics and facts about eczema to educate the public about eczema’s prevalence, risk factors and impact on daily life. We hope this research-backed data helps support informed discussions on eczema.

How common is eczema?

Global prevalence: Eczema affects approximately 10% to 20% of children and 2% to 10% of adults worldwide.1,2

United States: In the U.S., around 31.6 million people (roughly 10% of the population) have some form of eczema.3–5 

Seborrheic dermatitis: The global prevalence of seborrheic dermatitis is 4.38%, with a higher prevalence in adults than children.6  

Chronic hand eczema: The lifetime prevalence of chronic hand eczema has been estimated to be 14.5% of the general population.7

Atopic dermatitis: Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. It is estimated that 16.5 million adults in the U.S. have atopic dermatitis, with 6.6 million meeting criteria for moderate to severe disease.8 Approximately 9.6 million U.S. children under the age of 18 have atopic dermatitis, and one-third have moderate to severe disease.3

Who is most at risk for atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema?

Race and ethnicity: People of all skin colors, races and ethnicities can be affected by atopic dermatitis. In the U.S., children with atopic dermatitis who are African American/Black are more likely to have atopic dermatitis, and tend to have more severe disease than white children.9,10

Age: 80% of individuals affected by atopic dermatitis experience disease onset prior to 6 years of age.11 But atopic dermatitis is not solely a disease of childhood onset; 1 in 4 adults report adult-onset of symptoms, and nearly 40% are affected with moderate to severe disease.8,12,13

Genetics: Individuals with a family history of eczema, asthma or allergies have a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis.14,15 

Environment: Pollution, climate and exposure to irritants can increase the likelihood of developing atopic dermatitis.16 Children who live in an urban environment have a higher risk for prolonged disease.17,18

What do we know about atopic dermatitis symptoms and severity?

  • Itch is the most burdensome symptom of atopic dermatitis, followed by skin redness and sleep loss.19
  • 60.5% of adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis have reported severe or unbearable itch in the past two weeks, 86% reported daily itch and 63% reported itching at least 12 hours per day.20 
  • During an atopic dermatitis flare, itch and redness are increased. Flare frequency, duration and average severity increases with disease severity.21 
  • Skin pain is another symptom of atopic dermatitis, with 61% of affected adults experiencing pain. This pain is most often reported as a burning sensation, but can also feel like tingling or stinging. Pain is sometimes associated with excessive scratching, but can also exist separately. 22–25
  • More than 55% of adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis report inadequate disease control.19,26,27
  • Even when treatments are available, over 50% of adults with atopic dermatitis still face concerns about long-term use, and over 50% have found a treatment to be ineffective.19
  • Compared to the time of symptom onset, nearly half (48%) of atopic dermatitis patients report that at the present time, symptom severity has worsened. Nearly two-thirds (64%) report that more areas or different areas are affected; 49% indicate that the frequency of flares is worse than at onset.19 

How does atopic dermatitis impact quality of life?

  • Atopic dermatitis is the leading contributor to skin-related disability and ranks 15th among all non-fatal diseases globally.1 
  • Half of patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis indicate that it significantly limits their lifestyle; nearly 35% of those with mild atopic dermatitis also experience some lifestyle limitations.28
  • The impact of atopic dermatitis on caregivers is comparable to that of adult atopic dermatitis patients, with over 50% reporting a high or significant impact in the last month.19 
  • Nearly one-third of adults with atopic dermatitis have experienced challenges in school or their work life, and 14% of adults believe their academic and/or career progression have been hindered by atopic dermatitis.29 
  • One in three adults with atopic dermatitis and their partners have reported that eczema interfered with establishing relationships and their sexual health.30 
  • Children with severe atopic dermatitis have fewer friends and spend more time alone than children with moderate atopic dermatitis.31 Between 20% to 40% of school-aged children and teens with atopic dermatitis experience bullying because of their disease.32,33
  • Bathing and treatment regimens, coordinating with insurance and with doctors for medical appointments, and purchasing treatments for atopic dermatitis all place time and financial demands on families.31,34–36
  • Parents and caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis report feeling embarrassed about their child’s appearance as well as frustration, helplessness, sadness and guilt, due to their child’s disease.31

Sleep: Sleep disturbances are common, occurring in 67% of children with atopic dermatitis.37. Many (15% to 30%) adults with atopic dermatitis rate sleep disturbance as the “most” or “second-most” burdensome symptom.19,28,38,39

Atopic conditions: Children with atopic dermatitis often develop other atopic conditions like food allergy, allergic rhinitis and asthma — known as the atopic march. Classically, the atopic march begins with atopic dermatitis and progresses to food allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis.40. However, there can be variations in the trajectory of these conditions.41

Asthma: Around one-quarter of people with atopic dermatitis have asthma, compared to only 8% of those without atopic dermatitis.42

Mental health conditions: Atopic dermatitis’s negative impact on mental health ranks greater than that for patients with heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.28 Two-thirds of people with atopic dermatitis believe their mental health is negatively impacted by their atopic dermatitis.43

Depression: Adults with atopic dermatitis have a 2.5 to 3-fold higher risk for anxiety or depression, and children with atopic dermatitis are two to six times more likely to have depression or anxiety than children without atopic dermatitis.8,44–46

ADHD: Children with atopic dermatitis are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other conduct disorders.47–50

Other health conditions: Atopic dermatitis in adults is associated with other chronic conditions that contribute to poor health including diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, skin infections and ocular conditions.48,51–53

What are the impacts of atopic dermatitis on income, work and school?

  • Nearly 5.9 million work days annually are lost due to atopic dermatitis. Adults with atopic dermatitis take, on average, 11 days off of work per year for their disease.32
  • Of children with atopic dermatitis, 67.7% are absent from school more than 1 day per year due to their illness, and 3.9% missed over 15 days. Parents of children with atopic dermatitis also experience decreased work productivity and missed work days related to their child’s atopic dermatitis severity.9,54
  • People with atopic dermatitis have higher overall work impairment compared to non-affected coworkers. Approximately 15% of the work day can be impacted by disease flares.55 This impact is higher for more severe atopic dermatitis.56
  • People with atopic dermatitis have increased healthcare utilization compared to those without atopic dermatitis including:
    • More outpatient doctor visits — which were even higher for those with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis57–59
    • More visits to urgent/emergency care60
    • More hospitalizations61,62 
  • People with atopic dermatitis report a median annual out-of-pocket cost for disease management of $600. However, 42% of individuals spend $1,000 or more, and 8.5% report spending $5,000 or more.63,64 
  • Inpatient costs for atopic dermatitis reach nearly $8.3 million per year for adults and more than $3.3 million per year for children.65
  • The annual economic burden of atopic dermatitis, including direct medical costs, indirect costs from lack of productivity and quality of life impacts is conservatively estimated at $5.3 billion.66

New eczema research

The National Eczema Association (NEA) has its own research team dedicated to eczema. Our in-house team of scientists are actively conducting research to directly address gaps in the understanding of the lived experience of eczema. Learn more about the research we do and get involved.

References:

1. Laughter MR, Maymone MBC, Mashayekhi S, et al. The global burden of atopic dermatitis: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2017*. British Journal of Dermatology. 2021;184(2):304-309. doi:10.1111/bjd.19580

2. Choragudi S, Yosipovitch G. Trends in the Prevalence of Eczema Among US Children by Age, Sex, Race, and Ethnicity From 1997 to 2018. JAMA Dermatol. 2023;159(4):454-456.

3. Shaw TE, Currie GP, Koudelka CW, Simpson EL. Eczema prevalence in the United States: data from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health. J Invest Dermatol. 2011;131(1):67-73.

4. Hanifin JM, Reed ML, Eczema Prevalence and Impact Working Group. A population-based survey of eczema prevalence in the United States. Dermatitis. 2007;18(2):82-91.

5. Abuabara 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. 2019;170(5):354-356.

6. Polaskey MT, Chang CH, Daftary K, Fakhraie S, Miller CH, Chovatiya R. The Global Prevalence of Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Dermatol. 2024;160(8):846-855.

7. Quaade AS, Simonsen AB, Halling AS, Thyssen JP, Johansen JD. Prevalence, incidence, and severity of hand eczema in the general population – A systematic review and meta-analysis. Contact Dermatitis. 2021;84(6):361-374.

8. Chiesa Fuxench ZC, Block JK, Boguniewicz M, et al. Atopic Dermatitis in America Study: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Prevalence and Disease Burden of Atopic Dermatitis in the US Adult Population. J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139(3):583-590.

9. Chung J, Simpson EL. The socioeconomics of atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019;122(4):360-366.

10. Croce EA, Levy ML, Adamson AS, Matsui EC. Reframing racial and ethnic disparities in atopic dermatitis in Black and Latinx populations. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;148(5):1104-1111.

11. Weidinger S, Beck LA, Bieber T, Kabashima K, Irvine AD. Atopic dermatitis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4(1):1.

12. Abuabara K, Yu AM, Okhovat JP, Allen IE, Langan SM. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis beyond childhood: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Allergy. 2018;73(3):696-704.

13. Lee HH, Patel KR, Singam V, Rastogi S, Silverberg JI. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and phenotype of adult-onset atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(6):1526-1532.e7.

14. Schuler CF 4th, Tsoi LC, Billi AC, Harms PW, Weidinger S, Gudjonsson JE. Genetic and Immunological Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. 2024;144(5):954-968.

15. Choragudi S, Yosipovitch G. Trends in the Prevalence of Eczema Among US Children by Age, Sex, Race, and Ethnicity From 1997 to 2018. JAMA Dermatol. 2023;159(4):454–456. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.6647

16. Lee W, Chaudhary F, Agrawal DK. Environmental Influences on Atopic Eczema. J Environ Sci Public Health. 2024;8(2):101-115.

17. Irvine AD, Mina-Osorio P. Disease trajectories in childhood atopic dermatitis: an update and practitioner’s guide. Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(5):895-906.

18. Wan J, Mitra N, Hoffstad OJ, Yan AC, Margolis DJ. Longitudinal atopic dermatitis control and persistence vary with timing of disease onset in children: A cohort study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(6):1292-1299.

19. McCleary KK. More Than Skin Deep “Voice of the Patient” Report.; 2020.

20. Simpson EL, Bieber T, Eckert L, et al. Patient burden of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD): Insights from a phase 2b clinical trial of dupilumab in adults. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(3):491-498.

21. Bacci E, Rentz A, Correll J, et al. Patient-Reported Disease Burden and Unmet Therapeutic Needs in Atopic Dermatitis. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(11):1222-1230.

22. Maarouf M, Kromenacker B, Capozza KL, et al. Pain and Itch Are Dual Burdens in Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2018;29(5):278-281.

23. Silverberg JI, Gelfand JM, Margolis DJ, et al. Pain Is a Common and Burdensome Symptom of Atopic Dermatitis in United States Adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019;7(8):2699-2706.e7.

24. Vakharia PP, Chopra R, Sacotte R, et al. Burden of skin pain in atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2017;119(6):548-552.e3.

25. Huet F, Shourick J, Séité S, Taïeb C, Misery L. Pain in Atopic Dermatitis: An Online Population-based Survey. Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(14):adv00198.

26. Simpson EL, Guttman-Yassky E, Margolis DJ, et al. Association of Inadequately Controlled Disease and Disease Severity With Patient-Reported Disease Burden in Adults With Atopic Dermatitis. JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(8):903-912.

27. Wei W, Anderson P, Gadkari A, et al. Extent and consequences of inadequate disease control among adults with a history of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. J Dermatol. 2018;45(2):150-157.

28. Silverberg JI, Gelfand JM, Margolis DJ, et al. Patient burden and quality of life in atopic dermatitis in US adults: A population-based cross-sectional study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;121(3):340-347.

29. von Kobyletzki LB, Beckman L, Smirnova J, et al. Eczema and educational attainment: a systematic review. Br J Dermatol. 2017;177(3):e47-e49.

30. Misery L, Seneschal J, Reguiai Z, et al. The impact of atopic dermatitis on sexual health. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019;33(2):428-432.

31. Capozza K, Gadd H, Kelley K, Russell S, Shi V, Schwartz A. Insights From Caregivers on the Impact of Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis on Families: “I’m Tired, Overwhelmed, and Feel Like I’m Failing as a Mother.” Dermatitis. 2020;31(3):223-227.

32. Stingeni L, Belloni Fortina A, Baiardini I, Hansel K, Moretti D, Cipriani F. Atopic Dermatitis and Patient Perspectives: Insights of Bullying at School and Career Discrimination at Work. J Asthma Allergy. 2021;14:919-928.

33. Neri I, Galli E, Baiardini I, et al. Implications of Atopic Dermatitis on the Quality of Life of 6-11 Years Old Children and Caregivers (PEDI-BURDEN). J Asthma Allergy. 2023;16:383-396.

34. Capozza K, Schwartz A, Lang JE, et al. Impact of childhood atopic dermatitis on life decisions for caregivers and families. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(6):e451-e454.

35. Elsawi R, Dainty K, Smith Begolka W, et al. The Multidimensional Burden of Atopic Dermatitis Among Adults: Results From a Large National Survey. JAMA Dermatol. 2022;158(8):887-892.

36. Loiselle AR, Chovatiya R, Thibau IJ, Johnson JK, Guadalupe M, Smith Begolka W. Evaluating Access to Prescription Medications in the Atopic Dermatitis Patient Population in the USA. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2024;14(7):1811-1821.

37. Fishbein AB, Cheng BT, Tilley CC, et al. Sleep Disturbance in School-Aged Children with Atopic Dermatitis: Prevalence and Severity in a Cross-Sectional Sample. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021;9(8):3120-3129.e3.

38. Silverberg JI, Garg NK, Paller AS, Fishbein AB, Zee PC. Sleep disturbances in adults with eczema are associated with impaired overall health: a US population-based study. J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(1):56-66.

39. Yu SH, Attarian H, Zee P, Silverberg JI. Burden of Sleep and Fatigue in US Adults With Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2016;27(2):50-58.

40. Hill DA, Spergel JM. The atopic march: Critical evidence and clinical relevance. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;120(2):131-137.

41. Gabryszewski SJ, Hill DA. One march, many paths: Insights into allergic march trajectories. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2021;127(3):293-300.

42. Ravnborg N, Ambikaibalan D, Agnihotri G, et al. Prevalence of asthma in patients with atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84(2):471-478.

43. Johnson JK, Loiselle A, Chatrath S, Smith Begolka W. Patient and Caregiver Perspectives on the Relationship Between Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms and Mental Health. Dermatitis. 2024;35(4):386-391.

44. Silverberg JI, Gelfand JM, Margolis DJ, et al. Symptoms and diagnosis of anxiety and depression in atopic dermatitis in U.S. adults. Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(3):554-565.

45. Yu SH, Silverberg JI. Association between Atopic Dermatitis and Depression in US Adults. J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(12):3183-3186.

46. Cheng BT, Silverberg JI. Depression and psychological distress in US adults with atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019;123(2):179-185.

47. Paller A, Jaworski JC, Simpson EL, et al. Major Comorbidities of Atopic Dermatitis: Beyond Allergic Disorders. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(6):821-838.

48. Carrascosa JM, Morillas-Lahuerta V. Comorbidities in Atopic Dermatitis: An Update and Review of Controversies. Actas Dermosifiliogr (Engl Ed). 2020;111(6):481-486.

49. Strom MA, Fishbein AB, Paller AS, Silverberg JI. Association between atopic dermatitis and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in U.S. children and adults. Br J Dermatol. 2016;175(5):920-929.

50. Manjunath J, Silverberg JI. Atopic Dermatitis Is Associated With Multiple Behavioral Problems in US Children and Adolescents. Dermatitis. 2022;33(6S):S52-S60.

51. Thyssen JP, Halling AS, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Guttman-Yassky E, Silverberg JI. Comorbidities of atopic dermatitis-what does the evidence say? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023;151(5):1155-1162.

52. Silverberg JI, Gelfand JM, Margolis DJ, et al. Association of atopic dermatitis with allergic, autoimmune, and cardiovascular comorbidities in US adults. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;121(5):604-612.e3.

53. Ascott A, Mulick A, Yu AM, et al. Atopic eczema and major cardiovascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019;143(5):1821-1829.

54. Cheng BT, Silverberg JI. Association of pediatric atopic dermatitis and psoriasis with school absenteeism and parental work absenteeism: A cross-sectional United States population-based study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;85(4):885-892.

55. Eckert L, Gupta S, Amand C, Gadkari A, Mahajan P, Gelfand JM. Impact of atopic dermatitis on health-related quality of life and productivity in adults in the United States: An analysis using the National Health and Wellness Survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;77(2):274-279.e3.

56. Andersen L, Nyeland ME, Nyberg F. Increasing severity of atopic dermatitis is associated with a negative impact on work productivity among adults with atopic dermatitis in France, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S.A. Br J Dermatol. 2020;182(4):1007-1016.

57. Singh P, Silverberg JI. Outpatient utilization patterns for atopic dermatitis in the United States. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023;88(2):357-363.

58. Drucker AM, Qureshi AA, Amand C, et al. Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Among Adults with Atopic Dermatitis in the United States: A Claims-Based Analysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(4):1342-1348.

59. Wang X, Boytsov NN, Gorritz M, Malatestinic WN, Goldblum OM, Wade RL. US health care utilization and costs in adult patients with atopic dermatitis by disease severity. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2022;28(1):69-77.

60. Kwa L, Silverberg JI. Financial burden of emergency department visits for atopic dermatitis in the United States. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;79(3):443-447.

61. Silverberg JI. Health Care Utilization, Patient Costs, and Access to Care in US Adults With Eczema: A Population-Based Study. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(7):743-752.

62. Cheng BT, Silverberg JI. Predictors of hospital readmission in US children and adults with atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019;123(1):64-69.e2.

63. Smith Begolka W, Chovatiya R, Thibau IJ, Silverberg JI. Financial Burden of Atopic Dermatitis Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenses in the United States. Dermatitis. 2021;32(1S):S62-S70.

64. Chovatiya R, Begolka WS, Thibau IJ, Silverberg JI. Impact and Associations of Atopic Dermatitis Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenses in the United States. Dermatitis. 2022;33(6S):S43-S51.

65. Narla S, Hsu DY, Thyssen JP, Silverberg JI. Predictors of Hospitalization, Length of Stay, and Costs of Care Among Adult and Pediatric Inpatients With Atopic Dermatitis in the United States. Dermatitis. 2018;29(1):22-31.

66. Drucker AM, Wang AR, Li WQ, Sevetson E, Block JK, Qureshi AA. The Burden of Atopic Dermatitis: Summary of a Report for the National Eczema Association. J Invest Dermatol. 2017;137(1):26-30.

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