Scientists have linked childhood eczema with an increased risk of sleep disorders

Atopic dermatitis in children can affect not only the condition of the skin, but also the quality of night rest. Itching and inflammation can interfere with proper sleep, and its disturbances affect mood, behavior, and the ability to learn. American researchers studied the medical data of more than 26,000 children and found a link between eczema and diagnosed sleep problems. The results of the work can be found in the Izvestia article.

The study revealed a link between eczema and sleep disorders

The work was presented at the annual scientific conference of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The results are also published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAI) journal. The researchers examined the medical records of more than 26,000 patients between the ages of birth and 21 who applied to a primary care clinic from January 2024 to January 2026.

The researchers checked how many children were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, sleep disorders, other allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as mental disorders. Approximately 15% of the participants had eczema, and 10% had sleep problems.

Among children with atopic dermatitis, sleep disorders occurred in about 12% of cases. However, in the group of patients without eczema, this figure was about 10%. Thus, children with skin diseases were more often diagnosed with problems with night rest.

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The connection remained independent of other diseases.

The researchers also found that the pattern found was similar in children with and without concomitant mental disorders. A similar pattern was observed regardless of the presence of other allergic diseases, including asthma and allergic rhinitis.

According to Sandermeier, this indicates the importance of assessing sleep quality when monitoring children with atopic dermatitis. Doctors should take into account not only the condition of the skin and the severity of the symptoms, but also how well the child rests at night.

However, the authors emphasize that the study does not prove a direct causal relationship between eczema and sleep disorders. Scientists analyzed existing medical records, so based on the results of such work, it cannot be established that it was a skin disease that caused problems with night rest.

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Lack of sleep can affect mood and learning

Sleep disorders in childhood can affect different aspects of daily life. Insufficient rest can worsen mood, affect behavior, and make learning more difficult. In addition, sleep problems can reduce a child's overall quality of life.

With atopic dermatitis, night rest may be disrupted due to dryness, inflammation, and itching of the skin. Unpleasant sensations make it difficult to fall asleep and can cause a child to wake up at night. As a result, proper rest becomes more difficult to provide.

The authors of the study believe that specialists who monitor children with eczema should regularly ask parents about the quality of sleep. Early detection of concomitant disorders will allow them to be taken into account in further medical supervision and help children better cope with daily activities.