What Are Chronic Dermatoses?
The term chronic dermatoses encompasses a broad range of persistent skin conditions characterised by a prolonged or recurrent course and, in many cases, limited response to conventional treatment.
These include atopic dermatitis, urticaria, dermatomyositis, scleroderma-related skin changes, as well as chronic forms of eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions.
A common feature of many chronic dermatoses is disruption of the skin barrier combined with persistent inflammatory activation. These two processes reinforce one another: inflammation damages the barrier, while impairment of the barrier further intensifies the inflammatory response.
Inadequate local oxygenation, which may accompany chronic inflammation because of impaired microcirculation, further reduces the skin’s capacity for repair.
Characteristics
Chronic dermatoses are characterised by a complex interaction between genetic, immunological and environmental factors.
The therapeutic challenge is that conventional anti-inflammatory treatments, including corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medication, may control active inflammation effectively but do not necessarily correct the deeper biological imbalance responsible for recurrent flare-ups.
Many patients experience repeated cycles of exacerbation and remission that require ongoing pharmacological management.
Strengthening the skin’s biological capacity to maintain a healthy barrier and regulate inflammation with less reliance on continuous medication is therefore an important therapeutic objective.
Scientific Basis
The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in chronic dermatoses is based on improving local tissue oxygenation and reducing persistent inflammation.
Studies involving atopic dermatitis and other chronic inflammatory skin conditions have reported improvements in skin texture, reductions in itching and inflammatory manifestations, and longer intervals between flare-ups in patients who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct to their primary treatment.
The principal mechanism combines a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-4, IL-13 and IL-31 in atopic dermatitis, with improved skin microcirculation and activation of antioxidant mechanisms that counteract the oxidative stress associated with chronic skin inflammation.
The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
In chronic dermatoses, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used as an adjunctive intervention aimed at improving the overall biological condition of the skin rather than merely suppressing active inflammation. This broader action may help reduce reliance on intensive pharmacological treatment.
Improved skin microcirculation restores the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, supporting the integrity of the natural skin barrier. Its anti-inflammatory effects reduce the persistent immune activation that sustains the condition, while its antioxidant effects help counteract the oxidative stress that weakens barrier function.
Together, these three actions create more favorable conditions for long-term stabilization.
A typical treatment course consists of 15 to 30 sessions, planned in collaboration with the dermatologist.