Tag Archives: eczema

The Origins of Eczema May Start in the Uterus

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Maternal hormones influence fetal immune cells

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During pregnancy, stress can elevate certain immune cells in the fetal skin and cause them to react excessively, typically around 6 to 8 months, potentially leading to eczema.

Skin mast cells, a type of immune cell, release histamines and other chemicals that result in redness, swelling, and itching during allergic responses. Though eczema is not classified as an allergy, these chemicals can instigate inflammatory flare-ups triggered by irritating substances like soaps, detergents, and diapers.

A series of studies on mice have demonstrated that mast cells become hypersensitized when exposed to stress hormones from the mother.

“What our findings indicate is that the emotional experiences of pregnant women can significantly impact their children’s health,” stated Nicolas Gaudenzio from the Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases in France. “The sense of guilt for mothers is not the focus of this study; it may serve as a message for female partners and their support networks.”

Previous research has indicated a connection between maternal stress and eczema development in newborns. To investigate this further, Gaudenzio and his team conducted experiments with several pregnant mice.

Some mice underwent stress by being placed in a narrow tube exposed to bright light for 30 minutes over a span of 5 days. Researchers specifically targeted late third trimester periods, crucial for immune and nervous system development. They found heightened levels of stress hormones in the mice’s blood and amniotic fluid during this time.

After the mice gave birth, researchers simulated diaper-wearing by attaching saline-soaked pads to the backs of the hind knees and elbows to mimic common eczema-prone areas.

Offspring from stressed mothers predominantly displayed red, itchy, or scaly rashes in the targeted areas. In contrast, pups from control mothers, allowed to roam freely during pregnancy, exhibited only mild reactions without severe lesions.

Analysis of RNA sequences from sensory neurons connecting the skin to the spinal cord revealed nearly 300 differently expressed genes in the offspring of stressed mice. The puppies born to stressed mothers responded more aggressively to light touch, including being brushed with fine nylon fibers.

When immune cells from the skin of these puppies were sequenced, 500 genes showed differential expression in mast cells. Microscopically, these cells appeared primed to release histamine. “They were already in an active state in a neutral environment, indicating that the skin is predisposed to inflammation,” noted Gaudenzio.

Researchers repeated their experiments with pregnant mice treated to inhibit the production of corticosterone, a hormone integral to the stress response in rodents. They also administered additional corticosterone to unstressed pregnant mice, which resulted in their offspring developing eczema.

Moreover, genetically modified pups completely lacking certain immune responses did not develop eczema, even when their mothers were stressed.

This study represents a thorough and fascinating investigation,” commented Thomas Plum, a specialist in cell immunology at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg. “It underscores the significance of interactions among immune cells, structural cells, and the nervous system at the tissue level.”

However, it’s essential to consider that these experiments were conducted in mice. “It’s an intriguing finding, but just the beginning,” Plum remarked.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A Simple Skincare Routine Can Prevent Eczema in Babies

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Daily moisturizing of your baby’s skin may provide lasting benefits

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Regular application of moisturizers to your baby’s skin can potentially lower the chances of developing eczema, though it largely depends on the individual’s risk factors.

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition marked by intense itching and dryness, which can lead to blisters and bleeding. It often begins in early childhood, with many experiencing a decline in symptoms as they age.

To evaluate the effectiveness of moisturizers, Hywel Williams and his team at the University of Nottingham in the UK surveyed over 1,200 parents in the United States whose infants did not have eczema.

Among the infants aged 0-8 weeks, half had a family history of eczema, indicating a higher genetic predisposition to the condition.

The researchers randomly assigned about half of the parents to apply one of five available moisturizers, which were non-prescription options. Parents could select and swap moisturizers as they preferred.

The remaining parents were advised to only use moisturizers as needed, such as when their baby’s skin looked dry. More than half reported using them at least once weekly.

After two years, the research team reviewed the infants’ health records. They found that 43% of the non-moisturizer group had received an eczema diagnosis, compared to only 36% in the moisturizer group. “This represents a significant decrease,” said Michael Cork from the University of Sheffield, UK.

However, upon further analysis, the researchers discovered that moisturizers were effective primarily in babies without close relatives who had eczema. This finding aligns with previous research, highlighted in a study indicating that moisturizers may not benefit those at high genetic risk for the condition.

Individuals with lower genetic risk might develop eczema due to environmental influences like air pollution. Moisturizers are theorized to fill the gaps between skin cells, thus blocking irritants from penetrating the skin and triggering inflammation that manifests as eczema.

In contrast, those with a high genetic predisposition to eczema may already exhibit heightened levels of inflammation, which could limit the protective benefits of moisturizers, Cork noted.

The study did not determine which moisturizer was most effective as parents were not monitored for changing between different options. Further investigation is necessary, Cork stated.

There is a need to explore whether these findings hold true for populations in other countries, suggested Carsten Flohr from King’s College London.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Increasing proof suggests that air pollution is a cause of eczema

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Air pollution is difficult to avoid, especially for city dwellers

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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.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Excessive salt intake may trigger eczema symptoms

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It is already known that excessive salt intake increases blood pressure.

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Researchers have found that people with the skin condition have higher levels of sodium in their urine, suggesting that excessive salt intake may be linked to eczema.

Over 200 million people Eczema affects many people around the world and is a skin condition that causes dry, cracked, itchy skin. Common causes include irritants in soaps and detergents, as well as environmental and food allergens. Previous studies have shown that: Frequent fast food consumption linked to increased risk of severe eczema For the children.

To see if salt plays a role, Katrina Abuaballah Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) looked at urine sample data from more than 215,800 adults who took part in the UK Biobank study, more than 10,800 of whom had eczema.

The researchers used each participant's urine sample to estimate urinary sodium excretion over a 24-hour period. About 90% of dietary sodium is excreted in the urine.This waste product therefore provides a relatively reliable way of measuring a person's salt intake.

Overall, study participants were estimated to have excreted an average of 3.01 grams of sodium in their urine over a 24-hour period. Typically around 2.5 grams per dayThis is the equivalent of 6 grams of salt, or 1 teaspoon.

The researchers found that for every gram of sodium excreted, participants were 11 percent more likely to be diagnosed with eczema, and their risk of ever developing eczema at any one time increased by 16 percent.

The team acknowledges that a single urine sample may not accurately reflect an individual's typical salt intake, but in another part of the study, the researchers looked at the daily diet of a different group of more than 13,000 U.S. adults and found further correlations between high salt intake and eczema.

In previous studies, Sodium activates immune system cells“The immune system responds to allergens and irritants in a way that triggers several inflammatory pathways,” Abuaballah said. People with eczema have an overactive immune response to allergens and irritants, which causes skin inflammation and subsequent symptoms.

Although the study suggests a link between high urinary sodium levels and eczema, team members say more research is needed to prove that the former causes the latter. Brenda Chanalso at UCSF.

“It's too early to say whether lowering sodium in the diet can reduce the severity or risk of developing eczema,” he said. Karsten Flor At King's College London.

Abuaballah said her team will soon begin enrolling participants for a National Institutes of Health-funded study that will look at the relationship between dietary sodium, sodium levels on the skin, and eczema severity.

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Source: www.newscientist.com