Neuropathic pain component in skin pain and its impact on patients with atopic dermatitis: A cross-sectional study

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder characterized by eczema, dry skin, and intense pruritus. It affects both children (20%) and adults (10%), especially in developed countries. Although the hallmark symptom of atopic dermatitis is “itching”, the prominence of “skin pain” in AD emerges as a noteworthy but less explored symptom in atopic dermatitis. At times pain and itch appear at the same time making it difficult to differentiate their clinical impacts. A study showed that half of the AD patient (50.4%) were clearly able to differentiate between itching and skin pain. In AD pain is usually associated with scratching and fissures or red inflammed skin. Hence the present study has been designed to explore the presence of neuropathic component in patients of atopic dermatitis presenting with skin pain. On detailed literature search we could not retrieve any study for assessment and evaluation of neuropathic pain component in patients of AD experiencing skin pain. Also we could not retrieve any study on utilization of DN4 questionnaire score, NPSI questionnaire score and PDQ questionnaire score for assessment and evaluation of neuropathic pain component in overall skin pain in patients of AD.