Influence of weather and climate on subjective symptom intensity in atopiceczema

The frequent clinical observation that the course of atopic eczema, a skin disease involving a disturbed cutaneous barrier function, is influenced by climate and weather motivated us to analyse these relationships biometrical ly. In the Swiss high-mountain area of Davos the intensity of itching exper ienced by patients with atopic eczema was evaluated and compared to 15 sing le meteorological variables recorded daily during an entire 7-year observat ion period. By means of univariate analyses and multiple regressions, itch intensity was found to be correlated with some meteorological variables. A clear-cut inverse correlation exists with air temperature (coefficient of c orrelation: -0.235, P<0.001), but the effects of water vapour pressure, air pressure and hours of sunshine are less pronounced. The results show that itching in atopic eczema is significantly dependent on meteorological condi tions. The data suggest that, in patients with atopic eczema, a certain ran ge of thermo-hygric atmospheric conditions with a balance of heat and water loss on the skin surface is essential for the skin to feel comfortable.