Perceived Stigmatization Among Dermatological Outpatients Compared With Controls: An Observational Multicentre Study in 17 European Countries

    June 2023 in “ Acta Dermato Venereologica ”
    Sylvia van Beugen, Christina Schut, Jörg Kupfer, Antony P. Bewley, A.Y. Finlay, Uwe Gieler, Andrew R. Thompson, Tamara Grazia-Cazaña, Flora Balieva, Bárbara Roque Ferreira, Gregor B. E. Jemec, Lars Lien, L. Misery, S.E. Marrón, Sonja Ständer, Claudia Zeidler, Csanád Szabó, Jacek C. Szepietowski, Adam Reich, Amna Elyas, İlknur Kıvanç Altunay, Franz J. Legat, Vesna Grivcheva‐Panovska, Д. В. Романов, А. N. Lvov, G. Titeca, Francesca Sampogna, Nienke Vulink, L. Tomás-Aragonés, Andrea W.M. Evers, Florence Dalgard
    TLDR People with skin diseases feel more stigmatized than those without.
    This observational study involving 5,487 dermatology outpatients and 2,808 skin-healthy controls across 17 European countries found that individuals with skin diseases, especially psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, alopecia, and bullous disorders, reported significantly higher perceived stigmatization than controls. Contributing factors included sociodemographic variables (e.g., younger age, male sex, single status), health-related factors (e.g., higher BMI, poorer health), disease-related factors (e.g., greater severity, itch, longer duration), and psychological factors (e.g., distress, suicidal thoughts, body dysmorphic concerns, dissatisfaction with appearance). The study underscores the importance of targeted interventions to support these vulnerable groups and enhance patient care.
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