Two patients, one condition: the overlooked impact of atopic dermatitis on families
"We almost have two patients in our pediatric dermatology clinics, we’ve got the actual patients, and we’ve got the parents as well. Atopic dermatitis has an immense impact on the whole family.”
– Dr. Thomas King, Consultant Dermatologist at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom
Up to 25% of children are affected by atopic dermatitis, and 60% continue to experience symptoms into their teenage years.1,2 To most people, it might seem like just another childhood skin condition – perhaps imagining the occasional rash or patch of dry skin. But the reality is far different; this chronic inflammatory disease often brings a mix of persistent itching, painful skin lesions, and nights without sleep.1,3,4 For the millions of children and teenagers living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis – and their families – it's a condition that reaches into every corner of daily life, often disrupting school, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.2,5-9
As Dr. Thomas King explains: “People talk about the long-term burdens, damages, and negative consequences that can accumulate in diseases like atopic dermatitis. If you've got a disease which has so much burden on you that it knocks on into your school performance, that might impact your future career, earnings potential, mental health, and relationships. You can just see how that whole trajectory of their life can be knocked off course.”
Beyond the physical discomfort associated with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, these young people face challenges with school performance, emotional development, and social confidence.2,5-9 Dr. Minia Campos, who is the Head of the Pediatric Dermatology Unit at the Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Spain, adds that, “Sleep disruption can lead to anxiety, mood disorders, and impaired growth – with ripple effects across every aspect of a young person’s life.”
The impact extends far beyond the patient; families and carers often experience emotional distress, anxiety, and sleep loss too.1,10-12 “If the kids don’t sleep, the parents don’t sleep,” explains Dr. Campos, “Sometimes parents can’t go to work because they have to take care of their children or take them to doctor appointments.” Financial strain from missed work and medical costs adds another layer of pressure, compounding the emotional toll.13-15
In order to adequately measure the significance of the burden on caregivers, clinicians use specialized tools – such as the Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire – to measure how the condition impacts quality of life across household activities, family relationships, and emotional wellbeing.16 This formal assessment validates what families have long experienced but struggled to articulate: atopic dermatitis is truly a family condition that requires family-centered solutions.
Yet despite this measurable burden, caregivers are often left to navigate the complex and demanding condition with minimal support. Schools and workplaces frequently lack the awareness and understanding needed to accommodate children and parents with atopic dermatitis, often leaving families feeling isolated and overwhelmed.17-19
Timely access to effective treatment remains a major hurdle, particularly for moderate-to-severe cases. Families often struggle to find sustainable solutions, with nearly half of young adults with atopic dermatitis not receiving adequate care.2,20,21 This reflects not only gaps in treatment delivery but also the heterogeneity of the condition itself, which demands more personalized, long-term approaches that fully address its wide-ranging symptoms.22-24
The solution lies in recognizing atopic dermatitis for what it truly is: a family condition that requires comprehensive support. As Dr. Maxwell Sauder, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in Canada, puts it: “Getting the disease under control not only helps the individual, but it helps the whole family.” When treatment is effective and support systems are in place, children can return to being children, and families can begin to heal.
At Galderma, we’re committed to listening to the atopic dermatitis community and advocating for meaningful change. Through research, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the human impact of skin disease, we aim to help families reclaim the quality of life they deserve.
References
- Jennifer J, et al. Atopic Dermatitis: Update on Skin-Directed Management: Clinical Report. Pediatrics. 2025;155(6):e2025071812. doi:10.1542/peds.2025-071812
- Eichenfield L F, et al. Patient-Reported Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Pediatric and Adolescent Patients With Moderate-To-Severe Disease: Results of a Real-World, Cross-Sectional Survey. Pediatric Dermatology. 2025;42:523-531. doi:10.1111/pde.15940
- Yang G, et al. Skin Barrier Abnormalities and Immune Dysfunction in Atopic Dermatitis. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(8):2867. doi:10.3390/ijms21082867
- Lee D G, et al. Sleep Disturbances in Children With Atopic Dermatitis: A Scoping Review. J Cutan Med Surg. 2023;27(2):157-164. doi:10.1177/12034754231159337
- Cao X, et al. Global, Regional and National Burden of Paediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Trend and Geographic Inequalities Analysis. Clin Exp Allergy, 2024;54:747-759. doi:10.1111/cea.14558
- Atopic dermatitis and school performance in children and young adults. British Journal of Dermatology, 2023;188(3):e21. Doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad018
- Mostafa N & Smith S D. Improving Psychological Health Outcomes in Children with Atopic Dermatitis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol, 2023;16:2821-2827. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S393254
- Stingeni L, et al. Atopic Dermatitis and Patient Perspectives: Insights of Bullying at School and Career Discrimination at Work. J Asthma Allergy. 2021;14:919-928. doi:10.2147/JAA.S317009
- Kelly K A, et al. Skin Disease in Children: Effects on Quality of Life, Stigmatization, Bullying, and Suicide Risk in Pediatric Acne, Atopic Dermatitis, and Psoriasis Patients. Children (Basel), 2021;8(11):1057. doi:10.3390/children8111057
- Færk G, et al.. A ‘normal’ life: a qualitative study exploring parents’ experiences of everyday life with a child diagnosed with atopic dermatitis and atopic comorbidities. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2024. doi:10.1080/02813432.2024.2440777.
- Lee H J, et al. Psychological stress in parents of children with atopic dermatitis: A cross-sectional study from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Acta Derm Venereol. 2023;103:adv00844. doi:10.2340/actadv.v103.2242.
- Vicho-de-la-Fuente N, et al. Impact of atopic dermatitis on adolescents and families: A mixed-method systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2024. doi:10.1111/jan.16652.
- Frasier K, Zimmer D, Herrick G, et al. Psychosocial and socioeconomic barriers to treatment adherence in pediatric atopic dermatitis. Open J Med Psychol. 2024;13:87-102. doi:10.4236/ojmp.2024.134007.
- Crawford M N, Jiminez V S, & Mayo T T. The cost of relief: financial and educational impacts on atopic dermatitis care. J Dermatol Skin Sci. 2025;7(2):1-6.
- Su J C, et al. Atopic eczema: its impact on the family and financial cost. Arch Dis Child. 1997;76(2):159-62. doi:10.1136/adc.76.2.159
- Dodington S R, et al. The Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire: a review of its measurement properties and clinical application. Br J Dermatol. 2013;169(1):31-46. doi:10.1111/bjd.12232
- Gouws A. The impact of atopic dermatitis on the psycho-social wellbeing of children and their families. South African Family Practice. 2024;66(1):e1-e8. doi:10.10520/EJC190536.
- Vestergaard C, Thyssen JP, Stokholm J, et al. Atopic dermatitis and school performance in children and young adults. Br J Dermatol. 2023;188(3):e21. doi:10.1093/bjd/ljad018.
- Lal K. Engaging parents, caregivers, and schools in the management of pediatric atopic dermatitis. Dermatology Times. Published December 17, 2024. Available from: Dermatology Times
- Trzeciak M, Zysk W. Addressing existing gaps in the management of young adults with atopic dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024. doi:10.1111/jdv.20437.
- Carmanius PL, Lundin S, Ödling M, Kimland E, Ballardini N, Melén E, et al. Drug utilization among young adults with atopic dermatitis: influence of sex, socio-economic status and disease severity. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2025; 39: 145–153.
- Silverberg JI, et al. Patient burden and quality of life in atopic dermatitis in US adults: a population-based cross-sectional study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;121(3):340-347. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2018.02.0
- Hartmann D, Retamal C, & Valenzuela F. Precision medicine and Treat-to-Target approach in atopic dermatitis: enhancing personalized care and outcomes. An Bras Dermatol, 2025;100(4):501135. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2025.501135
- Mesjasz A, Kołkowski K, Wollenberg A, Trzeciak M. How to Understand Personalized Medicine in Atopic Dermatitis Nowadays?. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(8):7557. Published 2023 Apr 20. doi:10.3390/ijms24087557