The big idea: During industrialisation, humans have been exposed to increasing numbers of foreign chemicals. Failure of the immune system to tolerate drugs, cosmetics, and other skin products causes allergic contact dermatitis: a T cell-mediated disease with rising prevalence. Thus, this study explains why some creams and cosmetics may cause eczema breakouts. What the study asked: The goal of the study was to determine whether known contact allergens can bind to CD1a and sti

The big idea: The effect of prenatal stress (PS) on atopic dermatitis at birth was investigated and was found to induce fluctuations in maternal hormones. This resulted in dysregulations in the fetal immune system, leading to altered mast cell and sensory neuron function, which predisposes offspring to develop eczema as a response to typically harmless friction on skin after birth. What the study asked: Considering that previous studies suggested an association between PS a

The big idea: Many people with eczema may find that certain clothing fabrics cause overheating, sweating, and irritation, which sets off the dreaded itch. Rough seams, fibres, fastenings, and threads can also cause problems for sensitive skin. Your choice of clothing can make a considerable difference to how comfortable you feel. What the study asked: How do different fabrics interact with the skin to improve or worsen atopic eczema? What the study did: The study reviewed t

The big idea: Outdoor air pollution specifically in the form of Particulate matter (PM10) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can trigger or worsen atopic dermatitis symptoms. What the study asked: How does outdoor pollution affect symptoms of atopic dermatitis? What the study did: This study was conducted in Seoul, South Korea, with infants (35 month olds average). The parents recorded their child’s daily symptoms. The researchers collected daily outdoor air pollution dat

The big idea: Flares of eczema are attributed to many factors, often with minimal scientific evidence. Many of these beliefs come from personal experiences or anecdotal advice rather than strong scientific evidence. This study reviewed existing research to find out what actually causes eczema to worsen. What the study asked: The researchers aimed to determine which factors truly cause eczema flare-ups based on scientific evidence. Instead of relying on opinions or patient q

The big idea : There is a large relation between eczema and environmental triggers despite eczema being primarily a genetic condition. What the study asked : To what extent does the environment impact eczema’s severity and specifically which factor of the environment. Temperature? Location? etc. What the study did : The study conducted a large ecological study between climatic factors and the level of the state and prevalence of eczema. This survey was also part of the Nation