Exploring the Impact of Itch on Patients and Caregivers

Wendy Smith-Begolka, MD, kicked off the session “Burden of Itch on Patients and Caregivers” at the 4th Annual Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis Conference by saying, “Itch is the most burdensome symptom of atopic dermatitis.” She explained, “When patients are given the opportunity to rate the most burdensome symptoms in atopic dermatitis, itching stands out always at the top, and usually by quite a large margin.”

Additionally, Dr Smith-Begolka discussed what causes itch to be a “cardinal symptom of atopic dermatitis.” She suggested that the itch experience is real and that atopic dermatitis, as a heterogeneous disease, impacts patients’ quality of life. She further added that “[itch] can vary in terms of its intensity, frequency, duration, and persistence.”

Dr Smith-Begolka shared some quotes from patients who participated in the 2019 More Than Skin Deep initiative to illustrate that itch not only has physical manifestations such as scratch marks, but it can also lead to downstream effects such as sleep deprivation. She remarked, “The effects can also culminate in increased rates of depression and anxiety seen in significant amounts, especially in the more moderate and severely affected individuals in [the] community.” When patients were asked what is it they wanted most from treatment, the answer was itch relief, along with achieving almost clear or completely clear skin.

Dr Smith-Begolka inferred that there is still a lot of work to be done to alleviate itch burden, “Not only from a treatment therapeutic perspective, but also from a practical sense and understanding more of that real-world experience, and what does it mean to patients.”

In conclusion, Dr Smith-Begolka posed the following questions that will hopefully be answered in the future as new treatment options become available:

• What are some practical solutions that can both enhance and complement existing therapies and potentially treat itch in different areas of the body in different ways?
• Are there therapies that work better in some places than others?

Reference
Capozza K, Smith-Begolka W. Burden of itch on patients and caregivers. Presented at: 4th Annual Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis Conference; Baltimore, MD; April 9–11, 2022.