ABSTRACT
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition characterized by inflammation, pruritus, and a multifactorial etiology. The course is a fluctuating and unpredictable one, consisting of periods of remission and exacerbation that occur throughout the patient’s lifetime (1). Atopic dermatitis (AD), like other skin diseases, can be minimized in the minds of some physicians and the general public due to its smoldering, non-life-threatening nature. However, the impact of AD on patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is profound, affecting not only physical health, but psychological and social functioning as well. Indeed, the psychosocial morbidity associated with AD is significant and cannot be trivialized when evaluating and treating those afflicted with the disease. The influence of AD on patient overall well-being has strong implications for how the disease needs to be approached. If the impact on life quality is substantial, early and aggressive intervention is warranted no matter how mild the disease may objectively seem. Quality-of-life (QOL) measures and psychosocial therapies can be
combined with traditional clinical assessments and treatments for the most successful management of the disease.
