Pattern of Skin Disorders Across Age Groups
November 2017
in “
Research Journal of Health Sciences
”
TLDR Skin infections and eczema were most common in all ages, acne in teens and young adults, and nutritional skin problems and infestations in children.
The 2017 study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over a five-year period analyzed 10,865 patient records and found that skin infections and eczematous conditions were the most common disorders across all age groups. Acne vulgaris was highly prevalent among adolescents and young adults, while nutritional dermatoses, infestations, and genetic disorders were more common in pediatric patients. The study emphasized the importance of recognizing the pattern of skin disorders for effective health planning, diagnosis, and treatment, and for informing medical education. It also acknowledged limitations such as potential underrepresentation of the elderly population and the hospital-based nature of the study. Specific conditions like alopecia areata and vitiligo were mentioned, with 383 cases of acne keloidalis nuchae and 310 cases of vitiligo recorded, highlighting the prevalence of these disorders in the population studied.
