[The laundry-basket project--gender differences to the very skin. Different treatment of some common skin diseases in men and women].

In this study, we have analysed the treatment traditions in a dermatological outpatient clinic, from a gender perspective. Eczema and psoriasis were of similar frequency in male and female patients, while a higher number of female patients had eczema of the hands. Ultraviolet light (UV) treatment was given to a higher number of male patients in all diagnostic groups including eczema of the hands. In addition, a higher number of given treatments was given to the male patients than to the female patients. As for prescriptions to male and female patients from our department and in Stockholm county (1.8 mill.), a much larger amount of preparations for local treatment was received by female patients, especially emollients. Male patients had received more of calcipotriol creme in addition to their being treated more intensively at the clinic. In a sub-group analysis on patients with psoriasis vulgaris on our clinic and in a patient cooperation-based treatment department, we found the same relation between male and female treatment as in the larger group. On follow-up, the number of female patients with psoriasis who were given treatment at our clinic had increased, but the number of treatments given to men was still higher than for female patients. An economic analysis of these findings show a great overweight of clinic-based treatment costs for male patients, while female patients receive emollients for self-care to a greater extent. We conclude that more studies are needed to clarify the basis of these findings.