Scoring atopic dermatitis: the simpler the better?

Two scoring methods evaluating the severity of atopic dermatitis have been compared. One was simple, quick and compatible with a busy outpatients clinic. The other was more complicated and time consuming; it took into account most of the evaluable clinical signs of disease activity in each involved site. There was a highly significant correlation between the two methods of scoring, thus validating the simplest one; furthermore, the more complicated method was less reproducible than the simplest when used by two physicians on the same patient. This suggests that a simple and feasible scoring method is meaningful in keeping records at each visit in any patient with atopic dermatitis. Such records may then be used in retrospect for the evaluation of any new therapy.