['Skin problems are the commonest reason for people accessing healthcare services in Nepal but there is little information about the prevalence of skin disease.', 'To perform a point prevalence study of skin disease in the Terai region of Nepal.', 'Five villages were randomly selected in Bara District in the Terai region of Nepal, and 878 people were examined.', 'The number of individuals identified as having a skin disease was 546. The point prevalence of identifiable skin abnormalities was 62.2% (546 of 878) (with 95% exact confidence intervals 58.9-65.4%). A wide range of dermatoses was identified. The six most prevalent were dermatophyte infections (11.4%), followed by pityriasis versicolor (8.9%), acne (7.7%), melasma (6.8%), eczema (5.6%) and pityriasis alba (5.2%). Overall, treatable skin infections and infestations were by far the commonest skin diseases identified.'] Is skin disease common in rural Nepal : results of a point prevalence study?