Quiz: Is Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) Affecting Your Quality of Life?

Atopic dermatitis can interfere with many aspects of your life. Maybe you had to cancel plans during a flare-up, because you felt self-conscious about symptoms. Or maybe you’ve been up all night scratching at your skin.

Along with making you itchy and uncomfortable, atopic dermatitis can also interfere with your self-esteem, sleep, stress levels, and how you manage your social life and intimate relationships. You may find yourself having to constantly apply medication and spend money on expensive skin-care products, or you may be embarrassed by the appearance of your skin.

What’s more, “It’s not just the patient’s life that’s affected,” says Chloe Goldman, MD, a dermatologist based in Miami. “It’s also the significant others around them.” To find out just how big of a toll atopic dermatitis may be taking on your quality of life, take this assessment.

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

Additional Sources

Bawany F et al. Sleep Disturbances and Atopic Dermatitis: Relationships, Methods for Assessment, and Therapies. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. April 2021.
Begolka WS et al. Mental Health and Eczema — Seeing the Unseen. National Eczema Association. January 3, 2023.
Linares-Gonzalez L et al. Sexual Dysfunction and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review. Life. December 2021.
Misery L et al. Sexual Impairment in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. February 2025.
Managing Stress From Eczema. National Eczema Association.
Son SW et al. Assessment of Disease Severity and Quality of Life in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis From South Korea. Annals of Dermatology. December 2022.

Susan Bard, MD

Medical Reviewer

Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her professional interests include Mohs micrographic surgery, cosmetic and laser procedures, and immunodermatology.

She is a procedural dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery.

Dr. Bard has written numerous book chapters and articles for many prominent peer-reviewed journals, and authored the textbook The Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions.

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Jen Laskey

Author

Jen Laskey is a writer, editor, and content strategist. She has worked on EverydayHealth.com in various capacities since its inception, and her writing has appeared in many major publications, including SAVEUR magazine, EatingWell magazine, NBC, TODAY, and Fodor's Travel guides. She has also served as the senior editorial director of Twill Health, leading editorial strategy and daily operations for Twill's health and mental health apps.

In addition to writing about health, mental health, and wellness, Laskey writes regularly about food, wine/spirits, travel, and the arts. She is the author of Jen’s Candy Jar: Artisanal Candy Recipes for Special Occasions and is the founding executive editor of the multi-award-winning wine & spirits online trade magazine SevenFifty Daily.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in writing from Bennington College and Columbia University.

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How Much Is Atopic Dermatitis Affecting Your Quality of Life?

Question 1

How would you describe the current state of the eczema?