A new international study that was presented today at the 2025 Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) shows that adults with atopic eczema (AE) suffer significantly more often from thoughts of suicide.
As part of the “Scars of Life” study, one of the world’s greatest studies on the connection between AE and suicidal thoughts, 30,801 adults were interviewed in 27 countries in 2024. Among them were 15,223 adults with a medically confirmed current AE, while 7,968 adults served as controls without AE.
The participants with current AE were grouped and filled out a detailed online questionnaire after the age of the appearance of the AE – childhood, youth or adulthood, in which socio -demographic information, self -reported suicide thoughts, severity of itching and skin pain, severity of AE and experiences with skin -related stigmatization were recorded.
The results showed that 13.2 % of adults reported with AE about suicide thoughts, compared to 8.5 % of adults without AE. All AE subgroups – regardless of whether the disease began in childhood, youth or adulthood – showed a greater probability for suicidal thoughts than the control groups.
Atopic eczema, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which affects more than 200 million people worldwide, is characterized by recurring vulnerabilities dry, itchy and inflamed skin. In addition to the physical symptoms, the effects on mental health are increasingly recognized.
It is important that the study identified several factors that are strongly connected to AE with suicide thoughts in adults. Younger adults, especially those under the age of 30, reported more often about suicide thoughts (OR = 1.6), as well as people with obesity (OR = 1.29).
Clinical characteristics also played an important role: medium -heavy to heavy SAR doubled the probability of suicide thoughts (OR = 2.01), while pruritus (itching), skin pain and a high overall intensity of the symptoms were all significantly associated with an increased risk.
Psychosocial factors and sleep also contributed to the risk. Adults with suicidal thoughts reported a higher level of stigmatization and more frequently occurring sleep disorders, with mixed insomnia – difficulties in falling asleep and sleeping – being particularly associated with suicidal thoughts (OR = 1.78).
Dr. Delphine Kerob, one of the senior researchers, commented: “The results make it clear that the effects of atopic eczema affect more than just the skin and that suicide thoughts are a serious and common problem that is often overlooked by medical specialists.”
“We hope that this study will help relatives of the health professions to help relatives of the health professions to better recognize and address the general well -being of the patients by identifying the main risk factors for suicidal thoughts in this population group in this population group.
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