OBJECTIVES: The objective of this project was to conduct a cross-evaluation of the quality of life of patients suffering from psoriasis compared with those suffering from atopic dermatitis.   METHODS: A generic scale (SF-12), a specific scale (DLQI – Dermatology Life Quality Index) and a daytime sleepiness evaluation questionnaire (Epworth scale) were completed by each patient when they arrived at the Avène Hydrotherapy center.   RESULTS: For the population analysed (n=460), the average age was respectively 37.5 ± 14.9 years for patients suffering from atopic dermatitis (n = 175) compared with 53.7 ± 14.0 years fro the patients with psoriasis (n = 279).The gender ratio was opposite, in favour of women for atopic dermatitis (70.1%) and men for psoriasis (55.3%). The DLQI score was 29.7 ± 19.8 for patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and 27.2 ± 19.2 for patients with psoriasis. The SF-12 mental dimension of patients suffering from atopic dermatitis were more altered than that of patients with psoriasis (38.0 ± 6.5 versus 39.5 ± 6.3). Patients with psoriasis were significantly more physically affected than atopic patients (physical dimension component of 44.4 ± 6.7 in patients with psoriasis compared to 45.6 ± 5.9 in atopic patients). Patients suffering from atopic dermatitis felt that their disease had significantly more often deteriorated their health than patients with psoriasis (with respectively 58.4% versus 49.5%), but also their relationships with their children and with the rest of their family.   CONCLUSIONS: These initial results showed an alteration in the quality of life of patients with psoriasis and patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and the impact of 2 dermatoses on daily life. Patients with psoriasis were more affected physically, unlike the atopic patients, for whom the suffering was more mental. This notion also occurs with the feeling of a greater deterioration of their relationship with their children or families in atopic patients in comparison with psoriasis patients.