If you suffer from itchy bouts of dermatitis or scaly psoriasis flare-ups, you know the pain and irritation that comes along with them. But, you can take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. No, really. According to a recent report by the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 85 million people in the U.S. are affected by skin diseases.
The term "skin disease" is basically a blanket term for common skin conditions—i.e., acne, inflammation, hives, infection, dermatitis, psoriasis, and even skin cancer—and, according to the AAD's recent report, “Burden of Skin Disease in the United States," the number of Americans suffering from any of the above skin conditions is far more prevalent than previously thought. Data gathered for the report, which was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that one in four Americans was treated for some sort of skin disease in 2013 and that a whopping 50 percent of Americans over the age of 65 have not one but two skin diseases. Crazy, right?
"The impact of skin disease in this country is staggering, affecting one in every four Americans each year and taking a toll on lives, livelihood and our economy," Henry W. Lim, incoming president of the AAD and chair of its Burden of Skin Disease Work Group, said in a statement.
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What's more is that living with skin disease isn't easy—or cheap. The report also found that $75 billion was spent on treating (and preventing) flare-ups in 2013. Suffice it to say, having a skin disease can seriously wreak havoc on your body and your bank account, but at least you can take comfort in the fact that you're not suffering alone.
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