Atopic dermatitis beyond the skin: impact of skin pain in the Scars of Life project 

INTRODUCTION

Skin pain (SP) is increasingly recognized as a significant symptom in atopic dermatitis (AD) (1). It is associated with discomfort, increased disease burden, and reduced quality of life (QoL) (2). Although the nature of SP in AD remains poorly understood due to limited systematic research, patients report pain, discomfort, and sensitivity, suggesting possible peripheral and central sensitization (3). As part of the Scars of Life project, we conducted a cross-sectional observational study across 27 countries on five continents. A representative sample was selected in each country using the quota method.