A descriptive profile of eczema in a tertiary dermatological referral centre in Singapore

A retrospective study of 25,448 new cases of patients with various types of eczemas seen over a two-year period (1989-1990) was conducted. This represented 34.1% of new cases (74,589) seen at the Centre. The M:F ratio was 1:1. Occupational and ethnic distribution did not differ from that of the total outpatient population. 67% were endogenous eczema. Among the endogenous eczema, the majority (70%) were either non-specified endogenous eczema, hand and feet eczema or atopic dermatitis. 13.7% were contact dermatitis. Of these, 50% were non-specified contact dermatitis, 39% were irritant contact dermatitis and 11% were allergic contact dermatitis. Unskilled workers (19.1%) and housewives (12%) had the highest proportion for contact dermatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis (0.5% of all eczemas) was commonest among the elderly (68.3%) and Malays (19.7%). The prevalence of endogenous eczema had increased sharply from 31% in 1973 to 67% in 1989/90. In contrast, the proportion of exogenous eczemas over all eczemas seen has decreased from 48% to 15.4% (1973 to 1989/90).