A growing body of research has indicated that pruritus is an important feature of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). This study evaluated pruritus and pain among 103 patients with HS. Pruritus and pain intensity were assessed with a visual analogue scale, numerical rating scale and 4-item Itch Questionnaire. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was implemented to assess quality of life (QoL) issues. Various clinical features and factors influencing pruritus were also examined. Pruritus and pain during the last week were reported among 41.7% and 77.5% of patients, respectively. The presence of pruritus did not have an impact on DLQI, nor did it show interaction with the pain in this regard. The presence of pain was a crucial contributor, even more relevant than disease severity. None-theless, intensity of pruritus correlated positively with DLQI. The most troublesome symptom of HS was pain, followed by exudation, pruritus, appearance and smell, consecutively. Pruritus of mild-to-moderate intensity is a common HS-associated symptom that adversely affects patients' QoL.

Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are chronic, inflammatory and debilitating skin conditions. As skin conditions can affect sleep activity, it is possible that such dermatoses can disturb sleep quality. Moreover, atopic dermatitis-and psoriasis-related subjective symptoms may worsen sleep disturbances. In this study, we demonstrate that patients with atopic dermatitis experience far more problems with insomnia and sleep quality than those with psoriasis. We show that atopic dermatitis and psoriasis-related itch, but not pain, has a substantial association with insomnia and sleep quality, and is a crucial subjective symptom in these two chronic inflammatory diseases. Subjective symptoms accompanying atopic dermatitis and psoriasis can negatively influence patients' well-being. This study assessed the impact of itch and pain on sleep quality among 100 patients with atopic dermatitis and 100 patients with psoriasis, compared with 50 controls. The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to evaluate a spectrum of sleep disturbances. Coexistence of insomnia was indicated in the majority of patients; atopic dermatitis; 82%, psoriasis; 62%. PSQI total scores for patients with atopic dermatitis (8.3 ± 4.2 points) and those with psoriasis (8.1 ± 4.8 points) qualified them, in 80% of cases, as poor sleepers and were significantly higher compared with controls (3.1 ± 1.9 points). However, subjects with atopic dermatitis experienced more problems with insomnia and sleep quality than did those with psoriasis. Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis-related itch, but not pain, has a substantial association with insomnia and sleep quality in these patients, and is a crucial subjective symptom in these chronic, inflammatory skin diseases.

There is a lack of data evaluating the influence of hidradenitis suppurativa-related subjective symptoms on sleep quality. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of itch and pain on sleep quality in 108 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa compared with 50 controls. The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to evaluate a spectrum of sleep disturbances. Mean ± standard deviation AIS and PSQI scores among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa vs. controls were assessed as 5.4 ± 4.3 vs. 5.5 ± 3.4 and 6.5 ± 3.6 vs. 3.1 ± 1.9 points, respectively. The presence of both itch and pain had a significant impact on the frequency of insomnia. Pain was a crucial factor responsible for poor sleep quality among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa; its presence significantly affected subjective sleep quality, sleep duration and daytime dysfunction. Itch and pain have an important impact on insomnia and sleep quality in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Chronic dermatoses, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, prurigo nodularis, chronic spontaneous urticaria and hidradenitis suppurativa, as well as accompanying subjective symptoms (itch and pain), have a great impact on patients' well-being. Skin plays an important role in the physiological sleep process. This review attempts to analyze the association between chronic dermatoses in adults and sleep quality in recent studies. Polysomnography and actigraphy are performed for the objective assessment of sleep quality. Questionnaire-based subjective evaluations of sleep quality, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale, are useful in clinical studies and clinical practice. Subjective symptoms such as itch and pain have an essential influence on sleep quality and general quality of life in patients with chronic skin diseases.

Introduction. Despite the progress that has been made in the therapy of atopic dermatitis in recent years, cyclosporin A remains the first-line treatment of severe forms of the disease. Objective. To present a case of effective cyclosporin A therapy of severe atopic dermatitis with features of secondary bacterial infection. Case report. A 22-year-old man was admitted to hospital with extensive erythematous-desquamative skin lesions. The lesions were accompanied by intense itching. Based on the patient's medical history, physical examination, laboratory test results and histological examination of a skin biopsy, atopic dermatitis with bacterial superinfection was diagnosed. Treatment with cyclosporin A in combination with antibiotics was initiated, resulting in significant clinical improvement within a few days after the initiation of therapy. Conclusions. Our case confirms that cyclosporin A is a fast-acting and highly effective therapeutic agent in atopic dermatitis, and the risk of adverse reactions, if the drug is used properly, is low. sTResZcZenie Wprowadzenie. Mimo postępu, jaki dokonał się w ostatnich latach w terapii atopowego zapalenia skóry, leczeniem pierwszego wyboru ciężkich postaci tej choroby nadal jest cyklosporyna A. Cel pracy. Przedstawienie skutecznej terapii ciężkiego atopowego zapalenia skóry z cechami wtórnego nadkażenia bakteryjnego cyklosporyną A. Opis przypadku. Mężczyzna 22-letni został przyjęty do szpitala z powodu rozległych zmian rumieniowo-złuszczających. Zmianom skórnym towarzyszył intensywny świąd. Na podstawie wywiadu, badania fizykalnego, wyników badań laboratoryjnych oraz badania histologicznego wycinka skóry u pacjenta rozpoznano atopowe zapalenie skóry z cechami wtórnego nadkażenia bakteryjnego i rozpoczęto leczenie cyklosporyną A z antybiotykoterapią, uzyskując znaczącą poprawę kliniczną w ciągu kilku dni. Wnioski. Przedstawiony przypadek potwierdza, że cyklosporyna A cechuje się szybkim działaniem i dużą skutecznością, a ryzyko wystąpienia działań niepożądanych, jeśli lek jest stosowany właściwie, jest małe.