Eczema, a chronic skin condition known as atopic dermatitis impacts over 35 million Americans. Worldwide it affects 2-5% of all adults. The symptoms can range from mild irritation to more severe itching, inflammation and open sores.
New research is constantly being done into the root causes of eczema in order to establish more effective treatments moving forward. In a new study published by researchers at the Thomas J. Watson School’s biomedical engineering program and at Harpur College, two aspects of eczema research were connected. Namely, the decreased level of skin oils and the increased level of staph bacteria in the skin -- both of which contribute to the skin irritation and infection common in eczema.
The skin oils -- known as lipids -- help to regulate surface hydration and defend the skin from infection. The researchers found that while a lot of eczema cases are the result of genetics, there are also certain occupations that can increase the risk of developing eczema.
Certain jobs, such as health care and food preparation, require consistent hand washing and exposure to detergents throughout the day, often much more than most people would do. This works to erode some of the skin’s natural oils, and can allow for bacteria to more easily infiltrate the skin barrier.
One member of the research team, PhD student Zachary W. Lipsky of the Thomas J. Watson School, stated: "When we usually think about the oils in our skin, we think about water retention and moisturizing -- things like that," Lipsky said. "Now we're looking at how these lipids are important for protection against these microorganisms that can come in and cause diseases."
The research will continue to explore how exactly bacteria moves through the skin layers, as well as looking into whether or not this contributes to the weakening and cracking of skin that is a hallmark of eczema.
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