Nearly one in five adults with eczema have multiple subtypes, study reports

Key takeaways:

• Nearly one-fifth, or 18.2%, of adults with eczema had more than one eczema diagnosis.
• In the entire database, seborrheic dermatitis (4.3%) and atopic dermatitis (2.5%) were the most common forms.

Over 10% of people in the United States have some form of eczema and nearly one-fifth experience more than one eczema diagnosis, according to new research from the National Eczema Association.

Although the risk of receiving multiple eczema diagnoses after an initial diagnosis is well understood among clinicians, there has been limited research to support this hypothesis until now, found in the National Eczema Association’s study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, reported.

According to Allison R. Loiselle, MSc, PhD, co-author of the study and associate director, data science & research at the National Eczema Association, these findings have vast implications for patient care.

“Many forms of eczema share overlapping symptoms, contributors and underlying causes, which can complicate diagnosis and treatment,” Loiselle told Healio. “Recognizing this overlap can help to avoid the risks of misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment when multiple conditions are present.”

Supported by the NIH to ensure an accurate representation of the U.S.’s demographics, the All of Us research program analyzed the electronic health records of 25,672 adults with at least one form of eczema and 240,940 adults without eczema.

Results showed 18.2%, or nearly one-fifth, of adults with eczema had more than one eczema diagnosis. According to the entire set of health records, seborrheic dermatitis (4.3%) and atopic dermatitis (2.5%) were the most prevalent forms.

Among the most common co-occurring diagnoses were AD and seborrheic dermatitis (25.9%), allergic contact dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis (15.3%) and AD and allergic contact dermatitis (13.8%).

According to Loiselle, the high prevalence of comorbid seborrheic dermatitis among those with AD particularly stood out.

“In our analysis, 18.4% of individuals with AD also had seborrheic dermatitis, which was higher than expected compared to some previous studies,” she said.

Loiselle also told Healio that these findings highlight the need for dermatologists to consider all eczema conditions when diagnosing and treating a patient, rather than focusing on one specific type.

“Dermatologists should emphasize treatment strategies that can effectively address the most burdensome symptoms for patients, not necessarily one specific eczema type,” she added. “Ultimately, the goal is to make eczema management more personalized and effective, and to ensure patients receive holistic care that addresses all aspects of their skin health.”

For more information:

Allison R. Loiselle, MSc, PhD, can be reached at dermatology@healio.com.