Purpose: Skin and subcutaneous diseases were the third most common global condition and the eighth leading cause of non-fatal health burden in 2021. Despite their high prevalence and substantial impact on quality of life, they remain relatively underprioritized in public health policy. This study aimed to examine long-term global trends and regional disparities in the burden of inflammatory and infectious skin diseases from 1990 to 2021. Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021. Age-standardized incidence rates, years lived with disability (YLDs), and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were assessed across 204 countries and territories, 21 global regions, and all age groups. Results: In 2021, skin and subcutaneous diseases ranked as the eighth leading cause of YLDs worldwide. Between 1990 and 2021, inflammatory skin diseases demonstrated a modest increase in incidence (AAPC 0.08%) and YLDs (0.04%). Infectious skin diseases showed a slightly greater rise in incidence (0.19%), whereas YLDs declined marginally (– 0.01%). The burden varied markedly by sociodemographic index (SDI) level and age, with the greatest impact observed among individuals younger than 20 years. Conclusion: Inflammatory and infectious skin diseases exhibit distinct global trajectories and disproportionate burdens across regions and age groups. These findings highlight the importance of context-specific prevention strategies, improved equity in health service delivery, and greater policy prioritization of skin disease management in global and national health agendas. Keywords: dermatology, global disease burden, inflammatory skin diseases, infectious skin diseases
Ni et al. (Sun,) studied this question.