['Cutaneous dermatomyositis (DM) disease activity is associated with decreased quality of life.', 'To assess if an improvement in quality of life, as measured by the Skindex-29 and patient-reported itch and pain on a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS), correlated with an improvement in cutaneous DM disease activity.', 'Patients with a completed cutaneous DM disease area and severity index [Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI)] at two visits separated by at least 2\xa0months were classified into responder (n\xa0=\xa015) and nonresponder (n\xa0=\xa030) groups according to the point change in the CDASI activity scores between visits. Responders had at least a four-point improvement in CDASI activity, indicating clinically relevant improvement.', 'The change from baseline to the follow-up visit of the Skindex-29 subscale scores for the responders vs. the nonresponders were significantly different for emotions (P\xa0<\xa00·01), functioning (P\xa0<\xa00·01) and symptoms (P\xa0<\xa00·01). The change in VAS score between responders and nonresponders was also significant for itch (P\xa0=\xa00·01) and pain (P\xa0=\xa00·04). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of disease subtype, sex, race, age, treatment for DM, smoking history or a history of malignancy within 5\xa0years of a diagnosis of DM.'] Is improvement in the cutaneous disease activity of patients with dermatomyositis associated with a better quality of life?