Why skin diseases are on the rise in Bangladesh
Doctors say environmental pollution, overcrowding and poor hygiene, nutritional deficiencies, and increasing antifungal drug resistance are among the major reasons behind the surge
Highlights:
- Skin diseases rising; 37.23 per 1,000 affected nationally
- Rural areas show higher infection rates than urban regions
- Scabies and fungal infections driving rapid case increases
- New resistant fungal strain spreading, reducing drug effectiveness
- Mymensingh division shows highest national skin disease prevalence
- Experts urge hygiene, proper treatment, and strict drug regulation
Skin diseases are rising rapidly across Bangladesh. According to the BBS Health and Morbidity Status Survey (HMSS) 2025, an average of 37.23 out of every 1,000 people suffer from skin diseases.
The rate is higher in rural areas at 39.92, compared to 34.46 in urban areas.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Doctors say environmental pollution, overcrowding and poor hygiene, nutritional deficiencies, and increasing antifungal drug resistance are among the major reasons behind the surge.
Dr Shahidullah Shikdar, former pro vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University and a dermatologist, told The Business Standard that the number of skin disease cases has risen significantly. Two infectious conditions in particular — scabies and fungal infections — are mainly driving up the total number of dermatological cases.
He added that the likely reasons behind the rise of these two diseases include resistance to commonly used medicines. Overall, the country's hygienic situation is poor, and lack of cleanliness is causing an increase in infectious diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.
More than 1,500 patients receive treatment every day at the dermatology outpatient department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Dr Sharmin Zowarder, junior consultant at the dermatology department at Dhaka Medical, told TBS that most visiting patients are affected by scabies and fungal infections. Others come with issues such as hair fall, melasma, and vitiligo. Before 2024, fewer than 1,000 patients came daily.
Bangladesh reports high antifungal resistance
Dr Saiful Islam Bhuiyan, associate professor of dermatology and venereology at Bangladesh Medical University and general secretary of the Bangladesh Academy of Dermatology, told TBS that fungal infections are increasing alarmingly because the organism has changed.
Unregulated purchase and use of antifungal and steroid medicines, incorrect dosages, and incomplete courses have made the fungus resistant, creating a new strain. A joint Bangladesh–India–Germany study found that the new Trichophyton indotineae strain does not respond to standard antifungal doses. The unnecessary use of steroid creams and steroid–antifungal combination medicines has worsened resistance.
He added that their joint study found about 90 percent of fungal infections in Bangladesh are now caused by this new strain, and most conventional antifungal drugs are no longer effective at regular doses.
The study titled "A new collaborative Trichophyton mentagrophytes ITS Genotype VIII/Trichophyton indotineae Infection and Antifungal Resistance in Bangladesh" confirmed that infection with T mentagrophytes ITS genotype VIII (T indotineae) has become a public health concern with potential global impact.
In Bangladesh, 62 percent of samples showed resistance to terbinafine, making oral itraconazole the only reliably effective drug for now. However, resistance to itraconazole is also rising: 21 percent were resistant to itraconazole and 11 percent to both medicines.
Researchers note that T indotineae, first identified in South Asia, has now spread to more than 30 countries, with Bangladesh emerging as a geographic hotspot. The high level of drug resistance indicates a growing challenge in treatment.
Higher prevalence in Mymensingh division
The HMSS 2025, conducted on 1,89,986 individuals from 47,040 households between November and December last year, also recorded widespread dissatisfaction among patients and highlighted systemic weaknesses affecting health outcomes.
Skin disease ranks fifth among the top ten diseases recorded by BBS.
By division, the situation is worst in Mymensingh, where 43.1 to 58 per 1,000 people are affected. Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Dhaka also report comparatively high rates, while the lowest prevalence is in Rangpur at 21 per thousand.
The survey also shows a worrying care-seeking pattern: only 10.3 percent of patients go to government hospitals, 4.2 percent go to private hospitals or the private chambers of government doctors, 42.1 percent seek treatment from private physicians, and a significant 36.4 percent go to pharmacies.
What needs to be done
Doctors warn that long-term untreated skin disease can, in some cases, lead to kidney complications.
Dr Shahidullah Shikdar said anyone with a skin disease should seek medical advice, maintain hygiene, keep themselves clean, and eat nutritious food. Affected individuals should receive prompt treatment and avoid close contact with others. For some diseases, especially scabies, all family members should be treated if one person is infected.
Dr Saiful said drug resistance must be controlled nationally. Regulations must determine who is authorised to prescribe medicines, pharmacies must not sell drugs without prescriptions, and patients must complete their full course of medicine.
