Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease that may be triggered by psychological conditions and several allergens. Patients with AD may be experienced disease exacerbation due to the COVID-19 pandemic lifestyle including home-quarantine and increased stress. We obtained the electronic data of 100 AD patients admitted to our hospital from 2016 to 2019 and called them with specific phone line. Out of 100 patients, 43 were male, and 57 were female (mean age ± SD: 45.85 ± 16.90). Sixty patients (37 females and 23males; mean age: 42.22 ± 14.71) confronted disease flare-up during the COVID-19 era. Exacerbation of AD was correlated with treatment dose alteration, a lengthy history of atopic dermatitis, eczema duration, self-isolation, frequent handwashing, hand disinfection, and POEM scoring (P < 0.05). Regarding the POEM scoring, 61 patients with moderate to severe AD experienced higher anxiety than 39 patients with silent to mild AD (P = 0.013). In this study, most patients experienced disease exacerbation and perceived mild anxiety in this pandemic.