Co-occurring Autistic Spectrum Disorder Mediates ADHD on Atopic Dermatitis, Acne

Both male and females who were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) showed different risks for acne and eczema, according to a study.

"Our study is the first to examine the association between ASD, ADHD, and two of the most common skin disorders," the authors wrote in the Journal of Attention Disorders. "The overall increased risk of acne and eczema in patients with ADHD has utility for a wide variety of providers, including dermatologists, psychiatrists, and primary care providers, as well as the patients themselves."

Using de-identified patient records from the TriNetX database, researchers evaluated the associations between ADHD, ASD, acne vulgaris, and AD and created four cohorts (ADHD diagnosis, ASD diagnosis, both, or neither) and separated them into male and female (balancing for age, sex, race, and ethnicity to the baseline cohort with neither ADHD or ASD). They also evaluated the prevalence of acne and eczema. The final cohort sizes ranged from almost 19,764 to 345,626 individuals. 

According to the results, when compared with matched peers, males with ADHD or ADHD/ASD diagnosis saw increased prevalence of acne. Additionally, all neurodivergent males had an increased prevalence of eczema. Females diagnosed with ADHD saw increased prevalence in acne and eczema. Females diagnosed with ADHD/ASD saw no significant differences, and those diagnosed with ASD saw a decreased risk for eczema. 

"The decreased risk in those with ASD suggests that further research into skin care in this population may provide valuable insights," the researchers concluded. "As the number of individuals with ADHD and ASD grows and providers become more likely to encounter these patients in their practices, awareness of associated dermatologic conditions is critically important as it may ultimately lead to improved communication and collaboration between physician and patient."

Key Points

• Individuals diagnosed with ADHD/ASD may struggle with necessary organizational skills needed to follow recommended dermatologic care, leading to potential increases acne or eczema.
• Males with ADHD or ADHD/ASD saw an increase in the prevalence of acne.
• All neurodivergent males saw increases in eczema.
• Females with ADHD saw increases in both acne and eczema.
• Females with ADHD/ASD saw no significant differences, and a decrease in eczema.

Source

Osman K, Gerard P, Hale EW. Co-occurring ASD mediates impact of ADHD on atopic dermatitis and acne: A retrospective cohort study. Journal of Attention Disorders. 2023;28(1):109-116.

Disclosures

The authors report no financial disclosures or conflicts.