Psychosomatic Aspects of Skin Care and Therapy of Atopic Dermatitis with Regard to the Patient’s Dealing with Himself and the Parents’ Dealing with Their Child

Abstract

Due to their exposed localization, skin diseases have characteristic individual and social consequences as compared to other diseases. In the first section of this review, general psychosomatic and psychosocial aspects of the skin and common skin diseases are described. Since atopic dermatitis is characterized by a chronic inflammatory course and associated with intermittent attacks of intensive pruritus, it is more frequently associated with intraand interpersonal conflicts than other skin diseases. Therefore, certain aspects of atopic dermatitis such as coping and compliance/adherence-to-treatment are reviewed and discussed in detail. Finally, clinically important issues of psychosomatic care and dermatological therapy (skin care and topical therapy) of patients with atopic dermatitis are reviewed.

How to Be a Happy Dermatologist

“…Patients who get the information they need about diagnosis, prognosis and prevention are more likely to adhere to a treatment regimen; they improve more often and more quickly than those who lack such information . In the review article by Roos [2004] in this issue, it is pointed out that the doctor-patient relationship is the most important factor for an optimal adherence to treatment advices and in order to increase the mother's self-confidence to successfully manage the problems of her atopic child. The communication with the atopic child himself can be improved by the use of a new self-assessment tool presented in this issue: the Skin Detective Questionnaire [Lob-Corzilius et al, 2004].…”