Initial validation of the IDQOL and further validation of the FDI show good test-retest repeatability and apparent sensitivity to change with treatment. The effect on health-related QOL as measured by these methods is poorly correlated with clinical severity, confirming that QOL measures should be used in conjunction with clinical measures for global assessments of disease impact. This work requires further validation but suggests that QOL measures may be useful as outcome measures in clinical practice and research. Their simple construction allows quick and easy use, which is particularly valuable in large-scale and postal studies.

The cartoon CDLQI is equivalent to the previously validated written CDLQI version, but is faster and easier for children to use, and is preferred by both children and parents.

The DLQI proved easy to use in general practice. The impact of skin diseases on the quality of life of patients seen in primary care is comparable with that of patients seen in secondary care. This information could be used to inform the planning of services for these patients.

New contact and noncontact chromophore SIAscopic mapping techniques provide robust, rapid noninvasive measures of the concentration and spatial distribution of eumelanin in vivo, independent of haemoglobin, which correspond to true tissue values for this chromophore.