The following is a summary of “Sleep impairment in patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases: A review of mechanisms and management,” published in the FEBRUARY 2023 issue of Dermatology by Duan, et al.

Chronic inflammatory skin diseases (CISD) such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are linked to nocturnal sleep disturbances, exacerbating inflammation. For a study, researchers sought to provide a comprehensive overview of the multifactorial relationship between CISD and sleep loss and to identify potential treatment strategies to help manage the issue.

To accomplish this, they conducted a focused review of various types of published literature, including clinical trials, reviews, consensus guidelines, retrospective and prospective studies, and interventional studies. The review revealed that a complex interplay of physiological, psychosocial, and behavioral factors mediates sleep disturbances in patients with CISD. Therefore, they recommended that clinicians managing patients with CISD regularly assess and manage sleep problems and that updated clinician guidelines are needed to better address the multifactorial nature of sleep loss in patients with CISD.

Current guidelines from dermatology societies on managing sleep disturbances in patients with CISD were limited and primarily focused on atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Clinicians should be aware of the impact of CISD on sleep and the potential treatment strategies available to manage this issue. By addressing sleep disturbances in patients with CISD, clinicians may improve overall disease management and reduce the incidence of inflammation-related adverse events.

Reference: jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(22)00992-6/fulltext