By searching the database of CNKI, Wanfang and
PubMed, the
prevalence and
risk factors of
atopic dermatitis,
psoriasis,
acne, and
urticaria were relatively more investigated, which were the
skin diseases of more concern in the current
epidemiological study of
skin diseases. Three national epidemiologic surveys reported that the
prevalence of
atopic dermatitis increased from 0.69% in 1998, to 3.07% in 2002, and 12.94% in 2014, respectively. The
prevalence of
psoriasis increased from 0.123% in 1984 to 0.47% in 2009 according to 2 national surveys. The
prevalence of
acne was 8.1% in a national investigation in 2008. Representative national
prevalence data of
urticaria is not available.
Risk factors for these
skin diseases are distinct.
Atopic dermatitis,
psoriasis, and
urticaria are more related to
environment and mental stress, while
acne is more related to
skin type and dietary factors. Owing to the heterogeneities in diagnostic
methods used in the dermatoepidemiologic surveys (some of the
diagnoses were
self-reported) and a lack of follow ups, the reliability of data remained questionable, and the comparability across the surveys was difficult. As a result, it is necessary to conduct
population-based
cohort studies on
skin diseases in
China.