AD significantly affects patients' quality of life, including their sex life, with many factors associated with the disease contributing to the deterioration of patients' sexual health, suggesting routine assessment of sexual life in dermatological practice using validated tools.
Patients with atopic dermatitis had significantly higher anxiety scores than healthy controls.
Patients with atopic dermatitis had significantly higher depression scores than healthy controls.
Patients with atopic dermatitis had significantly worse quality of life scores than healthy controls.
Patients with atopic dermatitis had significantly higher skin-related sexual dysfunction scores than healthy controls.
Female patients with atopic dermatitis reported significantly lower sexual function scores compared to healthy women.
Deterioration in sexual health was strongly correlated with quality of life impairment, anxiety, and depression in AD patients.
Sexual life quality negatively correlated with multiple AD-specific clinical factors.
This research suggests that atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin condition commonly known as eczema, has a significant negative impact on patients' sexual health, in addition to the already well-known effects on mental well-being and quality of life. In a study of 201 participants (96 with AD and 105 healthy controls), people with AD reported notably higher levels of anxiety, depression, and skin-related sexual difficulties compared to those without the condition. Women with AD were particularly affected, showing lower sexual function scores and higher rates of anxiety and depression than both healthy women and male AD patients. The study also found that sexual health problems in AD patients were closely linked to the severity of the disease and specific symptoms. Worse itching (pruritus), sleep problems (insomnia), involvement of the genital skin area, and more severe overall disease were all associated with poorer sexual quality of life. Additionally, sexual dysfunction was strongly correlated with impaired quality of life, anxiety, and depression, suggesting these issues reinforce one another. This research suggests that sexual health is an important but often overlooked dimension of care for people with atopic dermatitis. The authors recommend that dermatologists routinely assess patients' sexual well-being using validated questionnaire tools, which could help identify those who are struggling and connect them with appropriate support earlier in their care.
Juśko N, Masajada M, Żabówka A, Ćmiel A, Brzewski P, Reich A. (2025). Sexual Health in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional Study.. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania). https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61101782