Health evaluation assesses all aspects of a person’s development like physical, social, psychological, and emotional features. Taking into account all these factors is important to approach each patient′s need approach. 

Chronic skin diseases impact the quality of life of the sufferers even more than chronic diseases. Measurement of health-related quality of life in the patient can be done using many tools with Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) being the commonest. 

Skin diseases that have the greatest effects on the patients’ quality of life are Psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, acne, atopic dermatitis and hair disorders. These diseases not only impact the patients but also their cohabitants. The psychological and social effects of dermatological conditions on patients as well as their cohabitants are explained.

Skin lesions are unesthetic, generate unpleasant sensations like itching or pain, so decreases the quality of life. Additionally, involvement of areas with a high emotional load, like the genital area, scalp, and facial area can cause social inhibition, anxiety and depression. Thus a comprehensive approach to skin diseases should be made, considering both, the medical as well as the emotional aspect to improve the quality of life of both patients and cohabitants.

The holistic approach demands a complete evaluation of patients and cohabitants, considering biological, psychological and social aspects. It must include specific evaluations of the quality of life and related disorders in all patients and cohabitants. 

Further therapeutic methods should be utilized in routine clinical practice, to improve the quality of life, like patient schools, cognitive-behavioral strategies or mindfulness. This will not only render biological benefit but also social and psychological benefits.

Source: Montero-Vílchez T, Sánchez-Díaz M, Martínez-López A, Arias-Santiago S. Quality of Life in Patients with Skin Disease and Their Cohabitants. Intechopen, 2021. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.97450