Printed on 2/13/2026
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), developed by Finlay and Khan in 1994, is the most widely used dermatology-specific quality of life instrument. It consists of 10 questions covering symptoms, feelings, daily activities, clothing, social/leisure activities, sport, work/study, relationships, sex, and treatment. Each question scores 0–3, giving a total of 0–30. Scores ≤1 indicate no effect, 2–5 small effect, 6–10 moderate, 11–20 very large, and 21–30 extremely large effect. A DLQI >10 is a common threshold for eligibility for biologic therapies for psoriasis and other skin diseases.
Formula: Sum of 10 questions (each 0–3). Total score range: 0–30.
Your DLQI score reflects the impact of your skin condition on your quality of life over the past week. A score of 0-1 means your skin disease has no effect on your life. A score of 2-5 indicates a small effect. A score of 6-10 indicates a moderate effect on daily activities. A score of 11-20 indicates a very large effect, meaning your skin condition is significantly interfering with your daily life, work, relationships, or emotional well-being. A score of 21-30 indicates an extremely large effect.
A change of 4 or more points in the DLQI is considered the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), meaning that a change of this magnitude reflects a meaningful improvement or worsening that the patient can perceive. Tracking your DLQI over time helps assess whether your treatment is working and whether adjustments are needed.
Use the DLQI at initial assessment for any skin condition that may affect quality of life, and at follow-up visits to monitor treatment response. It is particularly important in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and chronic urticaria, where a DLQI score greater than 10 is used by NICE and other guidelines as a threshold criterion for eligibility for biologic therapies.
The DLQI is also valuable in clinical trials as a patient-reported outcome measure and in clinical practice for documenting the patient perspective of disease burden. It takes only 1-2 minutes to complete and can be administered in the waiting room before the consultation.
The DLQI is designed for adults aged 16 and older. For children and adolescents, the Children's DLQI (CDLQI) should be used instead. The questionnaire captures impact over the past week only, which means it may miss intermittent or cyclical conditions that flare and remit over longer periods.
The DLQI has been criticized for potential floor and ceiling effects, and some studies suggest it may not fully capture the psychological burden of visible skin disease, particularly in conditions affecting the face or hands. Cultural differences in the perception and reporting of quality of life may also affect scores. Additionally, the DLQI does not assess disease severity directly — a patient with mild clinical disease but high psychological impact may score higher than one with severe disease who has adapted well.
For related assessments, see PASI Score, Burns BSA and ABCDE Melanoma Check.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health.
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