Mental Health Impacts of Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Populations

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease which can have significant impacts on mental health outcomes in pediatric populations. AD damages the skin barrier and causes sensitivity, which then leads to negative impacts in sleep, social functioning, and physical comfort. This systematic review utilized the PubMed database and focused on the search terms “atopic dermatitis,” “adolescents,” and  “anxiety.” These studies showed that atopic dermatitis can cause difficulty in sleeping, and these problems increase the risk of ADHD symptoms, emotional problems, and oppositional behavior. Early childhood AD as well as sleep problems, increases the chances of developing negative mental health outcomes later. Severe AD increases the risk of psychiatric disorders like anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder. Pruritus (itching) is also a significant driver of mental health problems and sleep disruptions. Children with atopic dermatitis express low social competence and participation in school and activities. Bullying and peer avoidance also become a problem, which causes distress and low self-esteem. AD is linked to negative mental health outcomes, and many different factors increase them. Sleep disturbances were the most common contributor to these mental health problems, and then came the physical and social symptoms. Treating AD should include both physical as well as psychological care for children, and early sleep intervention may reduce long-term mental health risks. A limitation of this review is only free full-text studies were used, and there was a dearth of literature on social factors given the inclusion criteria. For future research, there should be long-term studies focusing more on social functioning as well as studies on early interventions that target and focus mainly on sleep, physical symptoms, and support systems.