A bidirectional association between sleep and immunity clarify why patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) repeatedly complain of difficulty sleeping.

Proinflammatory cytokines influence neural processes that affect sleep and circadian rhythm. “It’s almost like when you’re most vulnerable, when you’re sleeping, the immune system is kind of poised for attack,” stated at the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis symposium by Dr. Zee, chief of the division of sleep medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago. 

Movement of interleukins and cytokines are in elevation in the morning, become lower in the afternoon, and then get upper again in the evening hours and into the night during sleep. An OSA diagnosis requires evaluation of objective information from a sleep study. Common managements of mild to moderate OSA include nasal continuous positive airway pressure and oral appliances.

Source: Mdedge Dermatology, March 5, 2021