Prevalence, predictors and comorbidity of dry skin in the general population

Background Dry skin is a frequent and multifaceted condition which can be associated with skin irritation, itch, patient discomfort and manifest skin disease. In spite of being frequent, little is known about the epidemiology of dry skin in the population. Objective To determine the prevalence of dry skin in the German adult population. Methods Data of 48 630 employed persons were assessed on a cross-sectional level in whole-body examinations by experienced dermatologists during company-based skin screenings conducted in 343 German companies. Next to the current dermatologic findings, age, gender, allergies, atopic diseases and the skin type were assessed. Results In total, n = 14 300 perso…