Patient Practices of Using the Heat in Response to Itching in Atopic Dermatitis: a Questionnaire Study

Introduction:
Pruritus is one of the most common symptoms in dermatology and is present in nearly all patients with atopic dermatitis. Patients are frequently advised to avoid warming the affected skin. However, the clinical observations have led us to a suspicion that heat at a certain degree might bring a relief of itch.

Objective:
To evaluate the occurrence of using hot water or hot air among patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) to reduce pruritus.

Material and methods:
An online survey was published in an online support group for adults with AD. The questionnaire included 17 questions about duration of illness, severity of symptoms, medications and several aspects of use of hot water or hot air.

Results:
Out of 158 participants, 99 (62.7%) confirmed to have ever used hot water or hot air as a way to relieve itch. In the question about using hot air (for example from a hair dryer) to relieve AD symptoms, 32 (20.3%) respondents replied positively. Nineteen (18.1%) patients who confirmed to use hot water could see and feel improvement of lesions whereas 78 (74.3%) stated that the skin condition gets worse after using hot water or hot air.

Conclusions:
Although warmth is known to increase itching, the study shows that the use of hot tap water or hot air from a hair dryer is a commonly adopted strategy among AD patients to reduce pruritus.