According to a study which was presented recently at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2023, concluded that almost half of the patients with skin disease experience sleep disturbances.
Burning, Itching and tingling of skin were reported as the main symptoms which impacted the sleep of patients with skin disease.
The ALL PROJECT, a wide-ranging international research initiative, investigated more than 50,000 adults across 20 countries to assess the impact of skin diseases.
The researchers found sleep disturbances had broader implications on patients’ quality of life, with nearly half (49%) of patients with skin disease reporting reduced productivity at work, compared with one in five (19%) individuals without a skin disease.
The main symptoms which impacted the sleep of patients with skin disease were itching (60%) and burning sensations or tingling (17%).
Patients more often experienced a feeling of fatigue as soon as they woke up (81% vs 64% in the non-skin disease population), periods of drowsiness during the day (83% vs 71%), tingling sensations in the eyes (58% vs 42%) and yawning repeatedly. (72% vs 58%).
Lead author Dr Charles Taieb said the study was the first to discover the profound impact of sleep disturbances on the physical functioning of patients with skin disease and these results highlight the critical need for early detection and effective management of sleep disturbances.
Dr Bruno Halioua, French dermatologist and co-author said that, healthcare providers should be encouraged to integrate sleep disturbance questions into the examinations of patients with skin conditions to foster a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of skin diseases.
Finally, the ALL PROJECT aims to highlight the impact of skin diseases and associated patient experiences so we can lessen these adverse effects and improve the quality of life for patients.
The ALL-PROJECT study also investigated the impact of living with hidradenitis suppurativa, an extremely painful skin disease which is often difficult to manage.
Findings from the study showed that 77% of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa reported a feeling of stigmatization due to their condition, with 58% experiencing rejection from others. More than half of patients reported that individuals avoided touching them (57%) and talking to them (54%) because of their condition.
These experiences led to significant consequences for patients, impacting their self-perception, relationships and daily lives.
Patients with reported feelings of stigmatization were more likely to avoid taking selfies (52%), compared with those without the condition (84%), and tended to control their appearance whenever they passed in front of a mirror (72% vs 34%).
About 79% of patients who showed poor adherence to therapy also reported a feeling of stigma.
“The stigmatization linked with this condition can deeply impacts patients’ lives and can perpetuate a vicious cycle of isolation and non-adherence to treatment,” said Dr Halioua.
The study highlights the need for immediate action to be taken, including public education efforts to increase understanding and improved access to tailored healthcare and support services for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.
