1. Lesions on the back of hands and female gender predispose to stigmatization in patients with psoriasis
- Author
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Tomasz Hawro, Romuald Maleszka, Karsten Weller, Andrzej Kaszuba, Zofia Gerlicz-Kowalczuk, Marlena Hawro, Marcus Maurer, and Anna Zalewska-Janowska
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Social stigma ,Social Stigma ,Hand Dermatoses ,Dermatology ,Severity of Illness Index ,030207 dermatology & venereal diseases ,03 medical and health sciences ,Sex Factors ,0302 clinical medicine ,Quality of life ,Psoriasis Area and Severity Index ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Psoriasis ,Body Image ,medicine ,Humans ,Sex organ ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Psychiatry ,Social rejection ,Aged ,business.industry ,Pruritus ,Psychodermatology ,Dermatology Life Quality Index ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Self Concept ,Organ Specificity ,Unemployment ,Quality of Life ,Educational Status ,Female ,business ,Attitude to Health - Abstract
Background Psoriasis vulgaris is characterized by disfiguring and stigmatizing skin lesions. The links among lesions distribution, severity, and stigmatization remain unclear. Objective We sought to investigate if the involvement of visible and sensitive areas is linked to stigmatization. Methods In all, 115 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were assessed for disease severity, skin lesions distribution, itch, and stigmatization using the Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire. Quality of life was assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Results The localization of psoriatic lesions on the back of hands was related to higher stigmatization levels ( P = .011, total score of the Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire), but not the involvement of nails, the palms, the face, or the genital area nor overall disease severity. All patients reported some level of stigmatization, regardless of the localization of lesions and type of psoriasis. Higher levels of stigmatization characterized patients who claimed not to be able to hide their lesions by clothing ( P = .025), women ( P = .001), and the unemployed ( P = .004). Stigmatization was the strongest predictor of quality of life impairment. Limitations Only hospitalized patients were included. Conclusions Psoriatic lesions on the back of hands are debilitating and warrant effective treatment. Special attention should be paid to female patients, who are more sensitive to stigmatization.
- Published
- 2017
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