About two-thirds of patients with inflammatory skin diseases have high reported stress scores, according to a letter to the editor published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. From October 2020 to February 2021, Laurent Misery, MD, PhD, and colleagues examined perceived stress in adults with adult acne (AA), atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis (P), or hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The validated perceived stress scale was used to assess stress, and QOL was measured with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Data were included for 7,273 participants: 1,605 with AA; 2,538 with AD; 2,329 with P; and 801 with HS. Among participants, 66.3% reported stress scores greater than 27 (indicating high perceived stress). For patients with AA, AD, and P, but not for those with HS, the more severe the condition, the higher the perceived stress scores. Less than 15% of patients had been offered psychological support, among whom only two-thirds had accepted this support. The DLQI score was significantly higher, and QOL was affected more, in patients with AA, AD, and P, especially when stress scores were greater than 27.

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