Increasing proof suggests that air pollution is a cause of eczema

Air pollution is increasingly linked to an increased risk of eczema, with new research showing a clear link between air pollution and skin conditions.

Vehicles and power plants emit pollution particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, called PM2.5. These have previously been associated with an increased risk of eczemathis is thought to be the result of the immune system becoming overactive and causing inflammation, drying out the skin and causing itching.

In order to collect more evidence, Jeffrey Cohen Professors at Yale University School of Medicine analyzed the medical records of more than 280,000 people. Most of them were in their 50s and participated in this medical treatment. Research programs for all of us. It collects health data from a diverse population in the United States, with an emphasis on people typically underrepresented in research, such as ethnic minorities.

The researchers also looked at average PM2.5 levels in the areas where these people live, using data collected in 2015. Atmosphere, Climate and Energy Solutions Center In Virginia.

We then compared PM2.5 levels at 788 locations across the United States to eczema cases diagnosed through mid-2022. They found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5, the incidence of eczema more than doubled. “More contaminated areas of the country had more eczema outbreaks,” Cohen says.

The research team considered factors that could influence the results, such as ethnicity and whether the participants smoked or had food allergies.

“This study successfully demonstrated a clear correlation in a large population and advanced the science,” he says. Giuseppe Varacchi at North Carolina State University. PM2.5, like pollen and dust mites, can irritate the immune system and cause inflammation when it comes into contact with the skin, Valacki said. Inhaling it may also have an effect, he says, because it can worsen inflammation in the body.

The study should give governments new reasons to implement policies to reduce air pollution, Cohen said. Meanwhile, people living in contaminated areas can reduce their risk by wearing long sleeves and staying indoors when pollution levels are particularly high, Valacki said.