A new study on the global epidemiology of rosacea and acne offers a new estimate of how many people may have rosacea worldwide.1
The study, which was conducted on 50,552 individuals older than 16 from 20 countries that comprise more than half of the world’s population, found an overall rosacea prevalence of 5.1%. An earlier study that pooled data from 32 population-based studies comprising 26.5 million people found a similar prevalence of 5.46%, though those researchers noted that the proportions in individual studies varied widely and were higher when rosacea was self-reported.2
While the overall estimated prevalence of rosacea worldwide remains similar to earlier assessments, assessment of its relative prevalence among several demographic groups produced unexpected findings. Whereas past studies and NRS surveys have indicated that fair-skinned individuals with a northern European background were more prone to developing the disorder, the new study reported the greatest prevalence in East Asia (4%), followed by Latin America (3.5%), the Middle East (3.4%), Australia (3.2%) and then Europe (3.1%). The researchers also found that people of mixed ethnicity showed the highest prevalence of rosacea (4.3%), followed by whites (3.3%), Asians (3.1%) and Blacks (2.3%).
Also unexpectedly, “the highest prevalence was surprisingly in the age group 25 to 39 (3.7%), followed by the age group 40 to 64 (2.9%), contrary to other studies with highest estimates above 40 years old,” the researchers said. The NRS has noted a greater prevalence among older individuals, as the incidence of rosacea is cumulative.
References
1. Saurat J-H, Halioua B, Baissac C, Cullell NP, Hayoun YB, Aroman MS, Taieb C, Skayem C. Epidemiology of acne and rosacea: a worldwide global study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024 Jan 4:S0190-9622(24)00002-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.038.
2. Gether L, Overgaard LK, Egeberg A, Thyssen JP. Incidence and prevalence of rosacea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Dermatol 2018 Feb 25.