Cutaneous Pain in Atopic Dermatitis Linked to Higher Psychological Burden
Cutaneous pain in atopic dermatitis (AD) is strongly associated with increased anxiety, depression, stigmatization, and impaired quality of life, according to a cross-sectional study of adult patients. The findings highlight pain as an underrecognized but clinically meaningful symptom that may influence overall disease burden.
The study included 113 adults with AD, with a mean age of 34 years, and assessed disease severity using the Eczema Area and Severity Index. Pain was evaluated using multiple validated scales, while psychological outcomes were measured using standardized instruments for anxiety, depression, and quality of life.
Patients reporting cutaneous pain in the prior week had significantly worse outcomes across all psychosocial measures. Rates of anxiety were more than doubled in patients with pain compared with those without (48.0% vs 18.4%), and depression was also more common (28.0% vs 5.3%). Overall, abnormal anxiety or depression scores were observed in 61.3% of patients with pain compared with 23.7% of those without.
The authors reported that “individuals with AD who reported cutaneous pain…scored significantly higher” on all psychological and quality-of-life measures, including anxiety, depression, and stigmatization scales. They further concluded that “the prevalence and severity of anxiety, depression, stigmatization, and impaired [quality of life] are higher in adults with AD suffering from cutaneous pain.”
Importantly, pain scores correlated significantly with all evaluated psychometric outcomes, suggesting a direct relationship between symptom intensity and psychological burden.
Reference
Kotewicz M, Mazgaj J, Jaworek AK, Szepietowski JC. Cutaneous pain in atopic dermatitis: mental health burden. J Clin Med. 2026;15(8):2938. doi:10.3390/jcm15082938
