Sleep disorders in dermatology - a comprehensive review

Sleep Disturbance and Chronic Urticaria: A Narrative Review of Its Relationship, Treatment and Evolving Literature

Background and Aims

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria is characterized by the sudden onset of itchy wheals and angioedema and is primarily driven by mast cells. It can have a significant impact on the Quality of Life (QoL) of an individual. While the role of mast cells in urticaria is extensively described, the link between sleep disorders and inflammatory skin conditions such as urticaria is still being explored. The review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge about chronic urticaria, elaborating on the impact of poor sleep quality on QoL of patients with urticaria, with a focus on their emotional well-being.

Methods

The review explores potential mechanisms linking chronic urticaria and sleep disturbances, such as persistent itching and discomfort, the release of inflammatory mediators, systemic inflammation, psychological factors, and effects of medication.

Results

The review finds that sleep disturbances have a significant impact on chronic urticaria. It identifies several potential mechanisms linking the two conditions, including persistent symptoms, inflammatory processes, psychological factors, and medication effects. Treatment approaches include a combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions.

Conclusion

The article emphasizes the significance of recognizing the impact of sleep disturbances on chronic urticaria. It lays the groundwork for future research to expand our understanding of this association, ultimately leading to improved management strategies and improved QoL for affected individuals.

[Quality of life and sleep quality in patients with chronic pruritus]

Pruritus is defined as a symptom that leads to scratching. Clinically, a heterogeneous group of clinical pictures of different etiology must be considered. Pruritus is characterized by varying intensity and duration. Many patients and/or their social environment, which is influenced by this, cite the impact on sleep quality as an accompanying main symptom. The patient's quality of life is affected depending on the severity of the pruritus and often leads to comorbidity such as depressive disorders or sleep disorders as well as to an impact on psychosocial well-being if it becomes chronic. To date, in addition to the medical history, the established examination methods have been the determination of the disease burden by assessing disease activity, e.g., with validated disease-specific scores, plus the assessment of quality of life using a dermatological quality of life index (DLQI). The latest studies show that this is by no means sufficient to determine the severity of disease and, as a result, to identify adequate treatment options.

Burden of impaired sleep and its improvement through topical treatment in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis

INTRODUCTION

Patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases often suffer from sleep disturbances. However, objective data on sleep architecture, especially to evaluate potential overall influences under therapy, are lacking.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Pilot study on sleep quality changes including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients before and 2 weeks after intensive topical treatment. In addition to disease activity rating, patient-rated outcomes for itch severity and sleep quality and polygraphy was performed before and after topical therapy.

RESULTS

14 psoriasis, eleven atopic dermatitis patients (10 female, 15 male) with a mean age of 49 years were included. Disease activity scores (EASI and PASI) were significantly reduced with topical therapy after 2 weeks (p < 0.001). Pruritus intensity (NRS) showed a significant influence on deep sleep, which resolved after therapy. Insomnia severity significantly decreased (r > 0.50, p < 0.05) and daytime sleepiness showed a significant reduction in 40% of patients. N3 (deep sleep) and REM sleep significantly improved, showing a strong effect (r > 0.50). The apnea-hypopnea index decreased in one of four patients independent of the individual BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Through polygraphy, we demonstrated impaired sleep patterns in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients with itch as a relevant factor and beyond that, rapid sleep improvement under 2 weeks of topical treatment.

Belastung durch gestörten Schlaf und dessen Verbesserung durch topische Behandlung bei Psoriasis und atopischer Dermatitis

INTRODUCTION

Patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases often suffer from sleep disturbances. However, objective data on sleep architecture, especially to evaluate potential overall influences under therapy, are lacking.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Pilot study on sleep quality changes including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients before and 2 weeks after intensive topical treatment. In addition to disease activity rating, patient-rated outcomes for itch severity and sleep quality and polygraphy was performed before and after topical therapy.

RESULTS

14 psoriasis, eleven atopic dermatitis patients (10 female, 15 male) with a mean age of 49 years were included. Disease activity scores (EASI and PASI) were significantly reduced with topical therapy after 2 weeks (p < 0.001). Pruritus intensity (NRS) showed a significant influence on deep sleep, which resolved after therapy. Insomnia severity significantly decreased (r > 0.50, p < 0.05) and daytime sleepiness showed a significant reduction in 40% of patients. N3 (deep sleep) and REM sleep significantly improved, showing a strong effect (r > 0.50). The apnea-hypopnea index decreased in one of four patients independent of the individual BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Through polygraphy, we demonstrated impaired sleep patterns in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients with itch as a relevant factor and beyond that, rapid sleep improvement under 2 weeks of topical treatment.

Polysomnographic characteristics of sleep in adults with and without physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis: results from the Study of Health in Pomerania

PURPOSE

To analyze sleep characteristics as measured with polysomnography (PSG) in adults from the general population with and without physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis (AD).

METHODS

We analyzed data from participants from the German population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) TREND-0. AD was diagnosed in a standardized skin examination. The following polysomnographic parameters were measured: total sleep duration (min), sleep latency (min), wake after sleep onset (WASO; min), rapid eye movement (REM) latency (min), sleep efficiency (%), total number of wakefulness and movement episodes, stages of sleep (%), and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Additionally, the subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We compared sleep characteristics of participants with and without AD.

RESULTS

Among 1187 participants, 47 (4.0%) had AD. We found no differences between participants with and without AD in any of the analyzed PSG parameters except for the total number of wakefulness and movement episodes and the percentage of REM sleep. Participants with AD had a higher number of wakefulness and movement episodes, and a lower proportion of REM sleep compared to those without AD. Regarding subjective sleep parameters, no significant differences were found between participants with and without AD.

CONCLUSION

Our data do not provide evidence for poor sleep quality in individuals with AD. Major limitations of the study include the unavailability of data on AD severity and the small number of participants with AD. Larger-scaled longitudinal studies considering disease severity and specific AD symptoms with an effect on sleep are required.

Sexual dysfunctions in psoriatic patients

Introduction

Psoriasis is one the most common skin diseases associated with a great decrease in the quality of patients' lives.

Methods

We aimed to study sexual dysfunctions in psoriatic patients using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for women and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) for men via an anonymous online survey. The study included 80 psoriatic patients and 75 controls without dermatoses.

Results

There was a downward trend in the total IIEF score in psoriatic men compared to controls. 58% of male patients and 76% of controls had a normal IIEF score. There was no significant difference in IIEF between patients treated and not with systemic agents. 62% of female patients had a decreased FSFI score, whereas in the control group, the majority of subjects (54%) had a normal FSFI score. There was no significant difference in FSFI score between patients and controls. Female patients treated with systemic antipsoriatic agents had significantly worse lubrication, satisfaction with sexual life, and pain.

Discussion

Our study has shown that the majority of questioned female psoriatic patients had sexual dysfunction according to FSFI, particularly they had worse satisfaction with sexual life and less sexual desire compared to women without psoriasis. The majority of male patients did not have sexual dysfunction according to IIEF, however, they had significantly worse overall satisfaction with sexual life and confidence to keep an erection. Systemic antipsoriatic treatment does not probably influence sexual dysfunctions in men but it does in women although we were not able to assess the severity or resolution of lesions after those treatments. However embarrassing, psoriatic patients should be questioned about their sexual lives by dermatologists, and more studies are needed to explore this matter.

Schwere atopische Dermatitis im frühen Kindesalter: Besonderheiten, Herausforderungen und neue Perspektiven in der Versorgung

Die atopische Dermatitis ist die häufigste chronische Hauterkrankung im Kindesalter mit einer Prävalenz von 10% bei Kleinkindern unter 2 Jahren, wovon etwa 15% einen hohen Schweregrad aufweisen. „Kinder sind keine kleinen Erwachsenen“, dies trifft für die schwere frühkindliche atopische Dermatitis in besonderem Maße zu. Innerhalb dieser sensiblen Lebensphase zeigen sich alterstypische Facetten der Erkrankung (psychosozial, neurokognitiv, klinisch‐morphologisch), die Unterschiede im Management mit sich bringen.

Besondere Bedeutung hat die Identifikation von Säuglingen und Kleinkindern mit früh‐persistierendem, schwerem Verlauf mit Blick auf eine erstmals für diese Altersgruppe zugelassene Systemtherapie: sowohl für die unmittelbare Versorgung der Hauterkrankung als auch unter dem Aspekt einer möglichen Prävention von Begleiterkrankungen. Da der „atopische Phänotyp“ klinische Überlappungen zum Spektrum der Immundefekte aufweist, ist die korrekte Einordnung des Hautbefundes bei therapierefraktärem Ekzem essenziell. In dieser Arbeit beschreiben wir eine alltagstaugliche Strategie, um anhand anamnestischer Warnhinweise, dermatologischer Leitbefunde und Labordiagnostik eine Abgrenzung von ekzematösen Hauterscheinungen bei primären Immundefekten vorzunehmen. Dazu geben wir aktuelle Empfehlungen zum Management des schweren frühkindlichen atopischen Ekzems, auch in Bezug auf die Indikation zur Systemtherapie.

Severe atopic dermatitis in early infancy: characteristics, challenges and new perspectives in clinical practice

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common skin disease in infants and children with a prevalence of 10% in the first two years of life. In this age group up to 15% are severely affected. "Children are not little adults" - this applies in particular to infants with severe atopic dermatitis. Age-specific clinical aspects (psychosocial, neurocognitive, morphological) of the disease require an adjusted disease management. Considering recent approval of systemic treatment options, early identification of infants and children with severe and early persistent disease is of particular importance also in view of possible prevention of atopic comorbidity. As several inborn errors of immunity (IEI) share features of the atopic phenotype, it is essential for clinicians to distinguish signs of immunodeficiency from severe AD. Here, we describe a practical approach on the basis of clinical history and key dermatological and laboratory findings. Furthermore, this paper is aimed at providing an update on general management of severe AD in early infancy, including recommendations for systemic treatment.

[Sleep disorders during pregnancy]

Pregnancy is associated with a number of physiological changes in a woman's body, which in turn affect the quality and duration of sleep. According to research, insomnia and other sleep disorders are associated with a high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, as well as postpartum complications. Understanding the mechanisms of sleep disorders during pregnancy is necessary to form an integrated approach in the management of this group of patients. The appointment of medicinal and non-medicinal therapies, as well as general recommendations for lifestyle correction in order to treat sleep disorders, is focused on the safe and prolific effect of a particular drug on the mother and fetus. This review also examined the safety profile of commonly used groups of drugs for sleep disorders during pregnancy.