The Burden of Skin Disease

At any given time, one in every three people in the United States suffers from a skin disease.  The prevalence of skin disease exceeds that of obesity, hypertension, or cancer.

For far too long, Americans have overlooked the very real burden of skin disease.  The American Academy of Dermatology Association and the Society for Investigative Dermatology commissioned a study by the Lewin Group to quantify the burden of skin disease.  This study shows that skin disease is more prevalent than anyone ever imagined—and carries serious medical and financial consequences.  Analyzing 22 skin diseases ranging from melanoma to acne, the total annual cost of the diseases is estimated at $39.3 billion in 2004 dollars.

DIRECT COSTS
The majority of costs associated with skin diseases stems from treating common but serious disorders such as melanoma, wounds, burns, psoriasis, and acne.  The direct medical cost for the 22 skin diseases totaled $29.1 billion.  The chart to the right shows the breakdown of these costs.  Considering direct medical costs only, the five most costly categories of skin disease are skin ulcers and wounds, acne, herpes simplex and zoster, cutaneous fungal infections, and contact dermatitis.  As a group, these account for $17.2 billion, or 60 percent of direct medical costs.

INDIRECT COSTS
The total indirect cost associated with lost productivity for these conditions is $10.2 billion.  Because skin conditions are often accompanied by visible physical abnormalities, they also impose significant psychological burdens and limit quality of life.  In fact, patients with atopic dermatitis, acne, or psoriasis report greater detrimental impact on quality of life than patients with high cholesterol, hypertension, or angina.

MORE FUNDING NEEDED FOR SKIN DISEASE RESEARCH
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plays an instrumental role in the acceleration of developments in cell biology, genetics, immunology, and laser technology that provide unprecedented opportunities for achieving advances in research and medical treatment for conditions of the skin.  Recent NIH funding levels have fallen short of keeping pace with inflation, and less funding translates into few discoveries, fewer new drugs in development, and fewer new treatments reaching the one in three Americans suffering from a skin disease.

Dermatologists and patient advocates are urging Congress to increase overall funding for skin disease research.  New treatments and cures for these skin diseases can be found if more money is invested in medical research.  For example, advances in areas such as new skin regeneration and wound care could help thousands of Americans live more comfortable lives.  As one of the most costly and rapidly expanding medical conditions in the United States, the relative burden associated with skin diseases should be a growing concern relevant to the health and economic well being of the nation.

Coalition of Skin Diseases, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 404, Washington, DC 20008-2369, (202) 243-0115

This site was made possible by a generous grant from Vaseline Skin Fund