Chronic Dermatological Diseases Research Articles

Medical rehabilitation in dermatology : Goals, program content, and application process

Medical rehabilitation plays an important role in the management of patients with chronic dermatoses and dermato-oncological diseases. Which dermatological indications qualify for amedical rehabilitation? What forms need to be completed for asuccessful application? Which treatments are provided and what are goals to be accomplished during dermatological rehabilitation? Evaluation of current guidelines, directives, and recommendations as well as exemplary reviews. Dermato-oncological diseases and every chronic dermatological disease that is associated with alimitation of body functions and structures, activity and participation is eligible for medical rehabilitation. They include need, ability to absolve arehabilitation, and afavorable prognosis. Treatments range from therapy of the underlying dermatological condition to interdisciplinary treatment of comorbidities with the aim of restoring functional health. Medical rehabilitation follows aholistic approach and represents asignificant addition to outpatient and acute inpatient care, often leading to along-term improvement in clinical outcome, participation, and activity.

EVALUATION OF CHRONIC STRESS AS AN ETIOLOGY FOR DERMATOLOGICAL DISEASES

O estresse crônico é um fenômeno amplamente reconhecido por seus efeitos adversos sobre a saúde física e mental. Embora seus efeitos tenham sido predominantemente associados a distúrbios psicológicos, evidências crescentes sugerem sua contribuição para o desenvolvimento de doenças dermatológicas. A pele, como o maior órgão do corpo humano, é altamente sensível a mudanças no estado emocional, refletindo o impacto do estresse crônico em sua função e integridade. Compreender a interação entre o estresse crônico e as doenças dermatológicas é crucial para uma abordagem holística no tratamento e prevenção dessas condições. Objetivo: Examinar criticamente a literatura disponível sobre a relação entre o estresse crônico e as doenças dermatológicas, avaliando sua etiologia e mecanismos subjacentes. Metodologia: A revisão foi conduzida seguindo as diretrizes do PRISMA. As bases de dados PubMed, Scielo e Web of Science foram pesquisadas por artigos publicados nos últimos 10 anos. Os descritores utilizados foram "stress", "chronic stress", "dermatological diseases", "skin disorders" e "psychodermatology". Os critérios de inclusão foram estudos que investigaram a associação entre estresse crônico e doenças dermatológicas, estudos publicados em inglês ou português, e estudos em humanos. Os critérios de exclusão foram estudos com amostras não representativas, estudos com foco exclusivo em distúrbios psicológicos e estudos com métodos não adequados. Resultados: A revisão revelou uma correlação significativa entre o estresse crônico e uma variedade de doenças dermatológicas, incluindo dermatite atópica, psoríase, acne e alopecia. Mecanismos imunológicos, neuroendócrinos e comportamentais foram implicados na patogênese dessas condições. A resposta inflamatória exacerbada e a disfunção da barreira cutânea foram identificadas como mediadores-chave. Conclusão: O estresse crônico emerge como um fator etiológico relevante para doenças dermatológicas, destacando a importância de abordagens integrativas no tratamento dessas condições. Uma compreensão abrangente dessas interações pode orientar intervenções terapêuticas mais eficazes e holísticas, visando não apenas os sintomas físicos, mas também os fatores psicossociais subjacentes.

Roflumilast 0.3% Cream: a Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Chronic Plaque Psoriasis.

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic dermatologic autoimmune disease that affects adults and children. Roflumilast 0.3% cream is currently the only topical phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in patients 12 years or older. Roflumilast inhibits phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor enzyme leading to the accumulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, which suppresses the inflammatory mediators interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α. Roflumilast, applied once daily, reaches steady state by day 15 and has a half life of approximately 4 days in adults. Roflumilast undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes and conjugation. Roflumilast is 99% bound to plasma proteins. Roflumilast efficacy and safety were evaluated in the DERMIS-1 and DERMIS-2 clinical trials. These identically designed, double-blind, vehicle-controlled phase 3 trials randomized 881 patients to roflumilast 0.3% cream or vehicle, applied once daily for 8 weeks. In DERMIS-1, the Investigator Global Assessment success rate was 42.4% with roflumilast 0.3% cream compared with 6.1% with the vehicle (32.3%-46.9%; P <0.001). Similarly, in DERMIS-2, the Investigator Global Assessment success rate was 37.5% with roflumilast 0.3% cream compared with 6.9% with the vehicle (20.8%-36.9%; P <0.001). Of 881 participants, 1% discontinued treatment with roflumilast cream due to adverse reactions compared with 1.3% treated with vehicle. Urticaria at the application site (0.3%) was the most common adverse reaction that led to discontinuation of roflumilast. To date, topical corticosteroids are the most commonly used agents to treat mild plaque psoriasis. Sensitive areas are often challenging to treat with existing topical therapy, including corticosteroids. Topical roflumilast has shown to be effective in treating sensitive areas, including skin folds, and may be an alternative to systemic therapy for some patients. The Food and Drug Administration approved topical roflumilast for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including intertriginous areas, for patients 12 years or older.

Is Omalizumab Treatment Used During the COVID-19 Pandemic Effective on the Frequency and Severity of COVID-19?

Objective: The effects of drugs used in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and similar chronic dermatological diseases in COVID-19 continue to be the subject of many studies. The present study aimed to reveal the frequency and severity of COVID-19 infection in CSU patients treated with omalizumab and antihistamines.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: CSU patients who were followed up and treated with omalizumab or antihistamines were evaluated retrospectively for clinical conditions with CSU and COVID-19 during the pandemic and compared with the control group regarding the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection. In addition, urticaria disease severity was also compared with pre-pandemic scores for the CSU group.&#x0D; Results: Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 17.4%, 30.1%, and 34.8% of the patients in omalizumab, antihistamine, and control groups, respectively (p= 0.001). The disease activity scores were increased in both antihistamine and omalizumab treated compared to the pre-covid state CSU patients, while the increase was minor in patients using omalizumab. &#x0D; Conclusion: The fact that COVID-19 infection was seen less frequent and urticaria activity scores were lower during the infection in the omalizumab group suggests that omalizumab treatment is safe and convenient to use during COVID-19 infection.

Psychiatric comorbidities on an inpatient dermatology consultation service: A cross-sectional analysis.

Despite the high prevalence of psychiatric illness in hospitalised dermatology patients, characterisation of psychiatric comorbidities on an inpatient dermatology consultation service in the United States has yet to be performed. To fill this gap in knowledge, we investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with psychiatric illness on the inpatient dermatology consultation service at the University of Southern California. Of the 429 patients seen by the dermatology consultation service between June 2021 to July 2022, 147 (34%) had psychiatric illness (defined as having at least 1 psychiatric diagnosis). Increasing age was associated with a decreased likelihood of psychiatric illness, while housing instability, chronic dermatologic disease, drug reaction, and pruritus without rash were associated with an increased likelihood of psychiatric illness. The high prevalence of psychiatric illness observed in hospitalised dermatology patients emphasises the importance of collaboration between consultant dermatologists and mental health specialists, particularly when specific sociodemographic or disease factors are present.

ВЛАГОЧУВСТВИТЕЛЬНЫЕ IN SITU СИСТЕМЫ В КОМПЛЕКСНОЙ ТЕРАПИИ АТОПИЧЕСКОГО ДЕРМАТИТА

Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) are modern forms for drug agent delivery with improved biopharmaceutical characteristics. By their formation mechanism they belong to the group of in situ systems - forms formed at the application site, under the influence of specific physiological or pathological factors. Dermatological SEDDS for external use that form an emulsion at the absorption site upon contact with water are characterized by a number of advantages, both in terms of use and technology. Moisture-sensitive SEDDS are compositions of oil, surfactant, emollients and co-surfactants. Emulsification occurs with minimal mechanical action, and the emulsion formed provides effective transdermal absorption of the active ingredients, soothing, moisturizing, and protective effects on the skin. All these advantages can be effectively applied in local symptomatic treatment of atopic dermatitis. Topical SEDDS are currently known to be developed for the treatment of melanoma, viral and fungal diseases, protection against ultraviolet radiation. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic dermatological disease accompanied by itching, burning, dry and flaky skin, reduced protective function of the epidermis, susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections. Using alkaline skin care products for patients with AD negatively affects the pH of the skin and affects it accordingly. In addition, the using of soaps causes thinning of the skin in both normal and atopic skin, which can aggravate the course of the disease. Therefore, the use of moisture-activated SEDDS in the complex external treatment of AD is reasonable both as agents for daily skin care, maintenance of its basic functions, and as drugs for transdermal delivery of active ingredients.

Gyermekbőrgyógyászati kutatások a szegedi Bőrgyógyászati és Allergológiai Klinikán 2004-2023 között

The authors present their most relevant clinical investigations in the field of paediatric dermatology, performed in the Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, between 2004-2023. In their epidemiological surveys, wide spectrum of dermatological manifestations and disorders were consecutively recorded both in healthy, mature newborn infants and in premature infants referred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Different neonatal, maternal, diagnostic and other factors behind the skin symptoms were also investigated in detail. In their twin-studies, the authors investigated the effect of neonatal blue-light phototherapy on cutaneous and uveal naevus development, and the roles of different environmental and constitutional factors on naevus formation were also analysed in identical and non-identical twin pairs. The success of the treatment of chronic dermatological diseases considerably depends on the patient’s compliance. The main objectives of their study were to investigate the therapeutic compliance of patients diagnosed with acne vulgaris, in order to explore factors behind low compliance.

Psychoemotional distress on patients with cutaneous manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infection

IntroductionThe new coronavirus had a huge impact on individuals from a social, economical and psychological point of view. In march 2020 The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic and highlighted its psychoemotional implications.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with cutaneous manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods Data was collected from one first-line infectious diseases hospital from northeastern Romania. All patients with cutaneous manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infection who accepted to answer the quality of life questionnaire (QLQ) were included in the study. The descriptive data analysis was conducted with the SPSS.Results A total of 191 patients with cutaneous manifestations and COVID-19 completed a questionnaire concerning their psychological distress and financial burden during the pandemic. Patients with chronic dermatological diseases (psoriasis) – 31% reported the highest level of psychological distress and financial burden compared to patients with acute cutaneous manifestations (chickenpox, dermatitis, infectious mononucleosis, steven-johnson syndrome, etc.). Furthermore, this patients showed generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances and they attributed their individual psychological distress to the COVID-19 pandemic. This patients received psychological/psychotherapeutic treatment due to the COVID-19 crisis, during hospitalization and after discharge.Conclusions During the pandemic, patients with dermatological diseases needs not only medical support but also psychological and psychosocial support. This study results emphasize the importance of monitoring the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with cutaneous manifestations.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Alexithymia prevalence among patients with chronic dermatological diseases in a tertiary hospital, Saudi Arabia.

Alexithymia is a psychological condition characterized by difficulty in identifying and expressing one's emotions, and it has been associated with several physical and mental health disorders. To determine the prevalence of alexithymia among patients with a range of chronic dermatological diseases in a Saudi public hospital. 477 patients who were over 14 years old and affected by one of the following chronic skin conditions: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, alopecia areata, vitiligo, hidradenitis suppurativa, pemphigus vulgaris, chronic urticaria were included in this study. Alexithymia was assessed in these patients by using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) which is a widely used, reliable and valid measure of this construct. Prevalence of alexithymia among chronic dermatological disease patients ranges from 14.8% to 71.4%, with an overall occurrence of 43%. The highest prevalence of alexithymia was found in hidradenitis suppurativa (71.4%) and the lowest in acne (14.8%). Overall, the alexithymia cases were predominantly male (51.7%). The distribution of male and female cases with alexithymia varied among patients with different types of chronic skin diseases, with the highest male prevalence in psoriasis (58.7%) and the highest female prevalence in pemphigus vulgaris (66.7%). Alexithymia is prevalent among patients with chronic dermatological diseases and dermatologists' awareness of how to identify and address alexithymia among their patients can play a vital role in improving treatment adherence and outcomes.

A Cross-Sectional Survey to Evaluate the Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Treatment Adherence in Chronic Dermatological Diseases

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdowns have contributed to complex problems in the management of chronic dermatological diseases. Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of chronic dermatological diseases treated with/without systemic immunomodulators and phototherapy. Materials and Methods: A single-center, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey via telephone calls/Google Forms was conducted from May 2020 to July 2020. Multivariate correlation analysis with adherence to treatment as dependent variable was performed to study the influence of various demographic variables, treatment-related factors, and pandemic issues. Results: Data of 138 patients (55% with psoriasis, 21% with vesiculobullous diseases, 18.2% with connective tissue diseases, and 5.8% with conditions such as alopecia areata, vitiligo, lichen planus, and reactive arthritis) were analyzed. The study population consisted of 81.1% of patients on systemic immunomodulators. Autonomous treatment modification was reported by 77% leading to poor disease control in 53.7%. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between income loss during the pandemic and treatment adherence. Duration of illness also showed a significant negative correlation, thereby indicating that treatment adherence reduced with disease chronicity. The highest nonadherence was noted with apremilast. None of the patients reported confirmed COVID infection. Conclusions: The study findings emphasize the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment adherence in chronic dermatological diseases. It underlines the need for better pandemic response by the development of patient education programs, standard protocols, and functional teledermatology units in Indian public health-care settings.

Psychiatric and psychologic aspects of chronic skin diseases.

Chronic skin diseases can substantially affect a patient's physical, psychologic, and social well-being. Physicians may play a critical role in identifying and managing the psychologic sequelae of the most common chronic skin conditions. Acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and hidradenitis suppurativa are chronic dermatologic diseases that put patients at high risk for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. Both general and disease-specific scales exist to assess the quality of life in patients with chronic skin disease, the most common being the Dermatology Life Quality Index. The general management approach to the patient with chronic skin disease should incorporate acknowledgment and validation of the patient's struggles; patient education on the potential effect of disease and prognosis; medical management of the dermatologic lesions; coaching on stress management; and psychotherapy. Psychotherapies include talk therapy (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy), arousal-reducing therapies (eg, meditation, relaxation), and behavioral therapies (eg, habit reversal therapy). Improved understanding, identification, and management of the psychiatric and psychologic aspects of the most common chronic skin conditions by dermatologists and other health care providers may positively affect patient outcomes.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: VIEWS OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC SKIN DISEASES

Purpose: The study aims to examine the use of dietary supplements (DSs) in patients with chronic dermatological diseases, as well as, the patients' views of the safety and benefit of DSs. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients hospitalized in the Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology at the University Нospital "Prof. Dr Stoyan Kirkovich" - Stara Zagora from March 2019 to March 2020 was performed. A specially designed and validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics was performed to analyze the results. Results: Overall 250 patients were involved in the study. The intake of DSs was established in 174 (69.6%) of the participants. Commonly used DSs were vitamins/minerals (41.2%) and herbal supplements (8.2%). Most of the respondents (59.2%) were ignorant about adverse reactions to DSs and 44.4% perceived DSs as completely safe. The majority of DSs consumers (59%) declared satisfaction with the effect of DSs and were convinced (62.4%) of their benefits. Conclusions: DSs are widely used in patients with chronic skin diseases. Most of the patients are ignorant about the risk associated with DSs intake. Physicians' awareness of DSs use in hospitalized patients is important for the rational use of DSs and their safe combination with drugs.

Dermatology and medical law: the effect of legal issues on the treatment of patients in dermatological practices in southern Germany

Usage of modern therapies in the treatment of chronic dermatological diseases has proven to be effective but associated with high costs. High therapy costs might raise legal issues and even lead to recourse claims. To evaluate dermatologists’ interests and knowledge in medical law and the occurrence of recourse claims, and to assess the impact of medical law on clinical practice. Dermatologists of the “Psoriasis-Praxisnetz Süd-West e.V.” participated in a web-based questionnaire study investigating the relationship between medical law and usage of modern therapies. The questionnaire was separated in two sub-polls carried out from 11/2016 to 12/2016 and 02/2017 to 03/2017, respectively. The first addressed general topics of medical law and the second specific legal topics, particularly recourse claims. Overall, 76 dermatologists participated in the first and 66 in the second sub-poll. In the first sub-poll, 27.6% of participants attended a seminar on medical law within the last 12 months. Furthermore, 28.8% of the participants of the second sub-poll already experienced a previous recourse claim, and 26.3% of those stated feeling confident or rather confident on legal topics. This proportion was lower among those who had not experienced a recourse claim (17.0%). Overall, 73.7% of those who had a previous recourse claim changed their prescription behaviour as a direct consequence thereof. The study demonstrates a close relationship between medical law issues and the prescription behaviour of dermatologists working in private practices in southern Germany. Regular legal education would thus be beneficial for patient-centred care.

Fast and sustained improvement of patient-reported outcomes in psoriatic patients treated with secukinumab in a daily practice setting.

Psoriasis is a chronic dermatological disease with great impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of secukinumab treatment on different patient-reported outcomes (PROs) during a long-term follow-up in Spanish patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis under real-world conditions. Retrospective, observational, open-label, nationwide multicenter cohort study that included patients who initiated treatment with secukinumab in daily clinical practice conditions. PROs assessing disease impact and QoL included Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Patient's Global Psoriasis Assessment, Itch Numerical Rating Scale and EuroQoL Thermometer Visual Analogue Scale. Outcomes, including PROs and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), were assessed at months 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 during treatment. A total of 238 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients had a mean DLQI score of 14.9 at baseline; 78.3%, 73.7%, and 71.7% of them achieved a DLQI 0/1 response at months 6, 12, and 24, respectively. DLQI score was lower in the long term for naïve patients. A sharp decrease in mean DLQI was observed during the first 3 months, reaching a plateau that was maintained until the end of follow-up. Similar findings were observed for the rest of QoL assessments. There was a close association between improvement in QoL and skin clearance (PASI), which progressively increased during follow-up. In this study, secukinumab sustainably improved patient's QoL during a 24-month follow-up, with strongest effects in patients naïve to biological therapies and with a direct correlation with PASI improvement.

Designing an Atopic Dermatitis Community that Integrates Patient Self-Uploaded Information into the EHR to Optimize Follow-up.

Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic dermatological disease in childhood that can affect people's quality of life. The aim of this study was to inquire about the difficulties, needs and interests related to the disease that people with eczema and their caregivers have; in order to develop a tool that is useful for the follow-up of the illness. Electronic surveys were sent to potential users and interviews were conducted with professionals who are specialized on the subject. The main findings allowed us to understand the challenges and situations they face on a daily basis, such as the difficulties related to the family support, the queries on the eczema flare-ups, the struggles with the adherence to treatment and the needs of optimizing their quality of life. These results helped us design a tool that allows patients and their companions to better monitor their disease while optimizing communication with their health professionals.

Chronic Cutaneous Disorders Are Associated with a More Favorable Disease Presentation and Outcome in Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma

Introduction: In epidemiological studies, chronic inflammation or previous major infection have revealed to be associated with an increased risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The association of chronic inflammation with the disease outcome is poorly defined. In this retrospective study based on 92 consecutive HL patients, we explored the incidence of previous inflammatory processes or previous major infection in newly diagnosed HL patients and their association with treatment outcome. Methods: Medical history before lymphoma diagnosis including previous infection; dental inflammation; cutaneous problems; and inflammatory respiratory, gastrointestinal, or musculoskeletal diseases was collected from the patient records. Also clinical HL presentation, given treatments, and the disease outcome were recorded. Results: Forty-six percent of HL patients had some of the studied inflammatory factor at the time of diagnosis. Chronic dermatological diseases were present in 16.3% of patients, and they were associated with an improved relapse-free survival (p = 0.028). Dermatological issues were also associated with early-stage disease and the absence of B-symptoms. Other studied inflammatory factors were not associated with any clinical variables or treatment outcome. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that among patients with HL, preexisting cutaneous symptoms are associated with a limited-stage disease, the absence of B-symptoms, and favorable prognosis.

POSB88 Dermatologist-Assessed Direct Medical Costs of Adult and Adolescent Patients with Atopic Dermatitis in China

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic dermatological disease characterized by recurrent eczematous lesions, dry skin and pruritus. The prevalence of AD in China has been increasing during the past decade.

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF BB CONCEALER CREAM CONTAINING NEEM OIL FOR ACNE TREATMENT

Acne vulgaris is a chronic dermatological inflammatory disease with symptoms like redness, comedones and blemishes appearing on face and neck. Propionobacterium acnes plays an important role in this disease. Neem oil, an ayurvedic, anti-bacterial medicine is non-comedogenic. Concealer is a type of cosmetic used to mask and camouflage blemishes and imperfections visible on skin and are available as liquid, balm, cream and stick. BB creams in cosmetics is termed as “beauty balm, blemish base, blemish balm” designed to serve as foundation, moisturizer and sunscreen all at once. The current study was to develop an aesthetic BB cream combining an anti-acne activity with concealing effect. Concentrations of upto 25 %w/w neem oil was prepared and evaluated for appearance, texture, pH, spreadability, antibacterial properties and in vitro release studies. All the formulations confirmed activity against P. acnes. Prolonged activity of neem oil observed at the end of 6 h as demonstrated in vitro

Adherence to systemic therapy in patients with psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter study.

BackgroundAdherence to treatment is important in chronic dermatological diseases. There are limited data regarding the adherence to treatment in patients with psoriasis during the COVID‐19 pandemic.AimsWe aimed to determine the rates of adherence to systemic treatments in patients with psoriasis and to identify the causes of non‐adherence during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional multicenter study from May 2021 to August 2021. A questionnaire including items regarding sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, disease‐related characteristics, and treatment‐related characteristics were filled out by the physicians. The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Hospital Anxiety, and Depression Scale, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index were calculated. The rate of adherence and non‐adherence to treatment and reasons for non‐adherence to treatment were examined.ResultsA total of 342 patients with psoriasis were included (182 male/160 female) in the study. The mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 14.2 years. The average duration of psoriasis was 192 ± 134.7 months. While the rate of adherence to treatment was 57.6%, the rate of non‐adherence to treatment was 42.4%. There were no significant differences with respect to adherence to treatment in comparison with oral and injection‐therapy groups. The most frequent reasons for non‐adherence to treatment were inability to go to the hospital (19.2%), concern about the COVID‐19 infection (16.3%), discontinuation of the treatment by the doctor (13.7%), inability to reach the doctor (7.3%), and inability to have access to the medication (7.3%).ConclusionAdherence to oral and injection therapies was fairly high among our patients with psoriasis during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Psoriasis severity and duration of medication use had a negative impact on adherence to treatment.

Impact of chronic idiopathic urticaria on patients' quality of life in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Urticaria is a common chronic dermatological disease that has a negative impact on the psychological status and the social interaction of the patients’ quality of life. The dermatology life quality index (DLQI) is one of the dermatology-specific instruments to evaluate the extent of the quality of life (QoL) impairment in the patients with skin diseases and provide an additional evaluation for the overall effectiveness of the treatment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; This study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional which was conducted in Jeddah city. Questionnaires with verified Arabic version of the DLQI were distributed and collected to the patients by dermatologists.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; A total 79 patients were enrolled in the study. Male patients represented 48.1%, while female represented 51.9% and sex ratio was 1:1.1. The mean DLQI score in all patients was 10.67±5.54. 51.9% of the patients unfortunately with score of 11-20 had very large effect on their life.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) has a significant negative impact on the quality of life. In Saudi Arabia, few studies only have been done to evaluate the impact of CIU on patients’ life and more studies are needed to help the patient to improve the management’s strategy and the patients’ life.&lt;/p&gt;