As many as seven in 10 people with eczema report that the disease has had a negative impact on their mental health in the past year. About two-thirds of adults with eczema had anxiety scores that were “borderline abnormal” or “abnormal,” and 46% had “borderline abnormal” or “abnormal” depression scores.
Findings come from a paper in Dermatitis that was based on a National Eczema Association (NEA) survey of adult eczema patients (18 years or older) as well as the primary caregivers of younger eczema patients (children and teens ages 8 to 17 years) about mental health and eczema’s relationship to mental health.
The mental health effects of eczema can be substantial, based on survey results. About one-quarter of respondents reported that they (or their child) had symptoms of poor mental health more than 10 days in the past month. More severe eczema symptoms were correlated with increased likelihood of having more than 10 days per month.
Among individuals with severe eczema, 84% patients or caregivers reported that mood and emotions were affected “a lot” or “extremely” by eczema in the past month.
Both adults with eczema and caregivers of children and teens with eczema reported worsening mental health symptoms during flares and right before flares, and many also reported apprehension about future flares.
Additional findings from the survey are expected to be published in the future.