Self-reported allergies in Russia and impact on skin.

INTRODUCTION

The rising prevalence of allergies can substantially impact the skin, which is one of the largest targets for allergic and immunologic responses.We present the results of an online survey assessing self-reported allergy prevalence in Russians, outline the populations who report allergies and characterize the skin conditions associated with allergy.

METHODS

An online survey was conducted in Russia of 2010 adults as a representative sample of the general Russian population.

RESULTS

A total of 34.9% of Russian adults (mean age: 41.3 ± 14.4 years old) reported having allergies. Reported allergies included skin allergies (73.3%), food allergies (53.9%) and respiratory allergies (43.4%), and 65.9% reported their allergies had been diagnosed by a doctor. In total, 75.1% of those who reported allergies also reported experiencing associated skin reactions, they were 1.5-5.5 times more likely to report a cutaneous disease and were 1.5 times to report sensitive skin compared to those who did not report allergies. In addition, those that reported allergies were also 2 times more likely to report experiencing skin reactions when using skincare products.

CONCLUSION

It is estimated that over 35 million Russian adults have allergies. These results will help raise awareness about the burden of allergies and the need to develop solutions to mitigate their impact on health.