OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the pertinence of using thermal therapy in terms of quality of life. METHODS: During the 2005 and 2006 seasons, a generic scale (SF-12) and a specific scale (DLQI – Dermatology Life Quality Index) were filled in by each patient when they arrived at the Avène hydrotherapy center (consultation on arrival), at the end of the thermal therapy (week 3), but also at 3 and 6 months after the end of the therapy. RESULTS: These initial results took into account the 174 questionnaires from patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. The average age of the subjects was 36.4 ± 14.7 years. The gender ratio was largely in favour of women (70.1% vs 29.9%). The median age of the subjects at the time of diagnosis was 16.0 years. Women were diagnosed earlier than men, with a median diagnosis age of 8.0 years for  women and 20 years for men.72.1% of subjects considered that their dermatosis had deteriorated “their daily life”, 58.9% “their health” and 60.0% “their leisure”. Following the 3 weeks of therapy these feelings had strongly diminished, and respectively only 44.3%, 34.8% and 35.3% thought so.The DLQI score on arrival was 32.4 ± 22.7 The evaluation of the DLQI score was compared to the DLQI score obtained on arrival, showing a significant improvement in quality of life at 3 weeks sustained improvement at 3 months and perpetuation of the effect at 6 months. No significant improvement in either the mental dimension or the physical dimension of the SF-12 were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the alteration in the quality of life of patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and its impact on daily life. The results confirm the improvement in the patients’ quality of life following the therapy, sustained improvement at three months, and perpetuation at six months.