Prevalence of common skin diseases among outpatients clinic of Baghdad hospital

Healthy skin is an important layer that gives appearance and self-confidence. The skin is affected by internal and external factors that surrounding the body. The problem of skin diseases is considered as one of the widespread diseases. The occurrence of these diseases varies from place to place depending on the nature of climate, the culture of the people, and their economic condition. A cross-sectional study of skin diseases was conducted at the dermatology centre for outpatient clinic of Baghdad hospital. The study is based on 7555 patients of all ages who are attended to this hospital in order to determine the prevalence of skin diseases. The study shows that the most prevalence skin diseases were infectious diseases with recorded percentage (41.1%). Other reported skin diseases are: eczematous diseases (30.6%), psoriasis (19.7%), acne vulgaris (3.2%), urticaria (3.1%), vitiligo (1.9%), rosacea (0.3%), and skin cancer (0.1%). There were no significant differences between the results of infectious skin diseases in both males and females except for warts (P≤0.05). However, significant differences (P≤0.05; P≤0.01) were observed in the results for non-infectious skin diseases between the two genders except for atopic dermatitis. The lowest prevalence percentages of skin diseases were found in the children under six years (7%) and the elderly patients above sixty years (5.1) %. The highest percentage of (25.3%) was recorded with the age group (31-45). Infectious diseases recorded the highest percentage, followed by eczematous diseases and psoriasis. Most prevalent skin diseases were observed at ages between 20 and 45 years old, and the highest percentages of skin diseases at the same age duration were contact dermatitis and psoriasis.