Disease severity, itch, pain linked to perceived importance of skin clearance in AD, psoriasis

There is a strong request for almost complete or complete skin clearance among patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis (AD), according to a recent study.

The investigators conducted a cross-sectional study of 4,016 and 3,842 adults with psoriasis and AD, respectively, to assess the importance of and factors associated with obtaining complete or almost complete clearance of these inflammatory skin diseases.

Patients with AD reported significantly greater importance of almost complete or complete skin clearance than did those with psoriasis. On the other hand, both patient groups reported greater importance of almost complete than complete skin clearance.

For patients with both diseases, increasing disease severity and itch and skin pain significantly correlated with perceived importance of skin clearance. Moreover, AD and psoriasis found on the face or neck and psoriasis located on the palms, soles or genitals were shown to be significantly associated with patient-perceived importance of almost complete skin clearance.

Only 7 percent of patients with severe AD and 27 percent of those with psoriasis were currently receiving a systemic therapy.

“Patient education and effective therapies should be used to reduce disease severity,” the investigators said.

The study was limited by the failure to examine the reasons for infrequent use of systemic treatments.

AD and psoriasis are associated with poor quality of life in patients, and though distinctions exist between these conditions, both are characterized by erythematous, thickened epidermal lesions that vary in intensity and affected body surface area. [Exp Dermatol 2018;27:409-417]