With the summer heat, many Canadians no doubt will be replacing those long pants, shirts, and sweaters with shorts, tees, and swimwear. However, for up to one-sixth of our population, this choice may not come as easy as we think. It's because they suffer from a disease known officially as atopic dermatitis although most of us call it eczema.
Eczema is a difficult disease to pin down. The symptoms range from itchy rashes to cracked, oozing skin. This condition can be a mere annoyance but in severe cases, it can impact one's ability to function in society. The same difficulties can be said for treatment. Some can manage the condition with hygiene while others may require prescription medications.
When it comes to the cause, eczema has proven to be an enigma. Researchers have known for years the ailment arises due to a change in one's immunity. For some reason, the body tends to overreact in certain areas of the body leading to the symptoms. This explanation is the basis for numerous pharmacological treatments known to calm the immune response and reduce or eliminate the ailment.
While therapeutic options may be helpful for those suffering, for public health officials, there is a need to know why eczema happens. They need to understand how this alteration of immunity starts in the first place. If they can figure out why our defense forces go awry, they can develop steps to prevent the problem.
The most obvious potential culprits behind this disease are microbes. They can be found all over the skin and research has revealed different parts of the body have different microbial populations. One or more species could find themselves in areas where they don't belong, such as the elbows or the back of the knees, and in an infection-like process, force the immune system to alter in a manner that leads to symptoms.
This idea does seem sound and evidence has been shown to support this theory. Yet it has never been proven. The closest researchers have come is the identification of reduced microbial diversity in flare sites. However, no one has singled out one species.
Now that has changed thanks to a group of American researchers. They have devoted their attention to the microbes found in eczema. In the process, they have revealed the name of the most likely culprit. Unfortunately, the research also has led to even more questions.
The team collected microbial samples from children suffering from varying degrees of eczema. They also collected control samples from times when the kids were not suffering from flares. The hope was to find some distinct change in the types of microbes present and pinpoint one species as being the cause.
When these initial results came back, there was reason for hope. As seen in other studies, flares led to a reduce diversity of bacteria in the area. A closer examination revealed one particular species, Staphylococcus aureus, tended to be higher during symptoms. Moreover, more of this species meant worsening symptoms.
Right off the bat, this discovery makes perfect sense. The species is known to be involved in many skin conditions, including acne, impetigo, and rashes. But this result cannot explain why some individuals end up with eczema while others have no issues.
The answer comes in a subcategory of a species, known as strains. S. aureus has numerous different strains and each one acts differently from the rest. In this light, one or more strains might be responsible for causing the disease.
Not surprisingly, this is the direction the researchers went next. The team examined the diversity of the strains in the hopes of finding an appropriate culprit. As expected, they found blooms of single strains in the eczema areas. The path to an answer became a little clearer.
But the elation didn't last long. When the group compared these single strains among the different eczema patients, they found something rather unsettling. Each patient had a different troublesome strain.
This significantly increased the complexity of the situation and required the group to take the investigation to a new level. They needed to find out if these strains were producing a common molecule that led to symptoms.
The team explored the genetic information of the bacteria in the hopes of finding a common cause for the symptoms. They came across many potential candidate molecules yet none were expressed in all the strains. Rather than being able to hone in on a particular gene, the team realized the onset of symptoms was more complicated than they believed.
While the results of the study did not manage to find the smoking gun, the group did develop some useful information for public health officials. The onset of eczema is due to a lack of microbial diversity on the skin and S. aureus is the most likely candidate for trouble. Moreover, seeing blooms of a particular strain could spell trouble.
The discovery may lead to the development of new diagnostic measures to determine the risk for flares. This also may develop a new treatment concept in which the immune system is not targeted but the bacteria population. By increasing diversity through the addition of friendly microbes, eczema may be both prevented and treated.
If this direction pans out, the future of eczema prevention may come in a cream consisting of a diverse microbial population. All one would have to do is use it regularly when trouble arises. That way, they might be able to lose the worry about symptoms and confidently enjoy wearing those summer clothes.
Go here to read the rest:
The Microbial Mystery Behind Eczema - Huffington Post Canada
- Eczema: Read About Symptoms and Medications - October 15th, 2014 [October 15th, 2014]
- Dermatitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - October 15th, 2014 [October 15th, 2014]
- Eczema and Your Skin | Eczema Types, Symptoms, Causes, and ... - October 15th, 2014 [October 15th, 2014]
- Kangen Water Testimony - Eczema, Weight Loss, Headaches - Video - October 15th, 2014 [October 15th, 2014]
- Controlling eczema - Video - October 17th, 2014 [October 17th, 2014]
- Eczema update! - When To Seek Medical Attention - Video - October 18th, 2014 [October 18th, 2014]
- My Makeup Routine For Eczema & Psoriasis - Video - October 18th, 2014 [October 18th, 2014]
- Dyson launches humidifier to combat eczema and psoriasis - October 20th, 2014 [October 20th, 2014]
- Sanofi, Regeneron Begin Phase 3 Study For Eczema Drug Dupilumab - October 20th, 2014 [October 20th, 2014]
- Ayurvedic treatment for Atopic Eczema - Video - October 20th, 2014 [October 20th, 2014]
- How To Treating Eczema at Home? EASY! Find it On This Video - Video - October 20th, 2014 [October 20th, 2014]
- Topical BioMedics Announces "Soothe the Skin They're in," a New Program for Children Who Suffer with Eczema - October 21st, 2014 [October 21st, 2014]
- Vitamin D Might Help Kids With Eczema - October 21st, 2014 [October 21st, 2014]
- Edguard tube cream for acne, eczema, scars and pregnancy blemishes - Video - October 21st, 2014 [October 21st, 2014]
- Cara Veldman #1848200 Eczema Cream - Video - October 21st, 2014 [October 21st, 2014]
- Tampa dermatologists clinical trial for sufferers of eczema ongoing - October 23rd, 2014 [October 23rd, 2014]
- Eczema - A recurrent rash everyone complains about - October 23rd, 2014 [October 23rd, 2014]
- My Essentials for Dry Skin & Eczema - Video - October 23rd, 2014 [October 23rd, 2014]
- Taking a 'Selfie' May Help With Dermatology Care, Study Shows - October 24th, 2014 [October 24th, 2014]
- EP.2 Cures Thermales : Business ou Sant ? - EczemaHelp - Video - October 24th, 2014 [October 24th, 2014]
- EP.1 Cures Thermales : Business ou Sant ? - EczemaHelp - Video - October 24th, 2014 [October 24th, 2014]
- Home remedy for eczema - Beat eczema - Video - October 24th, 2014 [October 24th, 2014]
- Trailer - EczemaHelp - Video - October 24th, 2014 [October 24th, 2014]
- Family First: Calming the symptoms of severe eczema - October 25th, 2014 [October 25th, 2014]
- what causes eczema - Eczema Free Providing ... - October 27th, 2014 [October 27th, 2014]
- Atopic eczema - Treatment - NHS Choices - Your health ... - October 27th, 2014 [October 27th, 2014]
- Atopic dermatitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - October 27th, 2014 [October 27th, 2014]
- Atopic eczema - NHS Choices - October 27th, 2014 [October 27th, 2014]
- Eczema Treatment Options : How To Cure Eczema & Home Remedies For Eczema - Video - October 27th, 2014 [October 27th, 2014]
- Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future - October 29th, 2014 [October 29th, 2014]
- How SELFIES can help cure skin conditions - October 30th, 2014 [October 30th, 2014]
- Eczema linked to bone fractures, injuries in new Northwestern study - October 30th, 2014 [October 30th, 2014]
- Adult eczema may be unrecognized risk factor for fracture, other injuries - October 30th, 2014 [October 30th, 2014]
- Mom Tips: Relief for Baby Eczema - Video - October 30th, 2014 [October 30th, 2014]
- BEST BABY ECZEMA PRODUCTS - Video - October 30th, 2014 [October 30th, 2014]
- Eczema Tied to Bone Fracture Risk in Study - October 30th, 2014 [October 30th, 2014]
- Accident prone eczema patients - October 30th, 2014 [October 30th, 2014]
- Eczema girl's agony is over thanks to allergen-busting extra washing machine rinse cycles - November 1st, 2014 [November 1st, 2014]
- Helping Healing Eva's Eczema with Applied Kinesiology - Video - November 1st, 2014 [November 1st, 2014]
- Eczema May Increase Risk of Injury - Video - November 1st, 2014 [November 1st, 2014]
- treatmyeczema - November 2nd, 2014 [November 2nd, 2014]
- My Eczema Care Routine March 2014 | ... ... - November 2nd, 2014 [November 2nd, 2014]
- The Psoriasis Eczema Skin Puzzle #42 - Video - November 3rd, 2014 [November 3rd, 2014]
- Can some patients' bodies become 'addicted' to topical steroids? - November 5th, 2014 [November 5th, 2014]
- How To Treat Eczema Naturally Review DO NATURAL REMEDIES REALLY WORK - Video - November 5th, 2014 [November 5th, 2014]
- I Will Beat Anyone I Find Eczema On His/Her Body - Video - November 5th, 2014 [November 5th, 2014]
- Proper amount of bathing and moisturizing your baby may help prevent skin disease - November 8th, 2014 [November 8th, 2014]
- How to get rid of super dry skin psoriasis, eczema and more! - Video - November 12th, 2014 [November 12th, 2014]
- Easy Homemade Remedy For Eczema - Pulse Daily - Video - November 13th, 2014 [November 13th, 2014]
- Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream - Video - November 15th, 2014 [November 15th, 2014]
- aveeno eczema moisturizing cream | Sample Promo - Video - November 16th, 2014 [November 16th, 2014]
- Psoriasis & Eczema : Rain soul by Johnny - Video - November 16th, 2014 [November 16th, 2014]
- aveeno baby eczema therapy moisturising cream | Sample Promo - Video - November 17th, 2014 [November 17th, 2014]
- aveeno baby eczema therapy reviews | Sample Promo - Video - November 18th, 2014 [November 18th, 2014]
- Peanut in household dust linked to peanut allergies, especially for children with eczema - November 19th, 2014 [November 19th, 2014]
- Peanut in household dust linked to peanut allergy in children with eczema during infancy - November 19th, 2014 [November 19th, 2014]
- 10 Tips to Manage Psoriasis and Eczema this Winter - November 19th, 2014 [November 19th, 2014]
- Tampa dermatologist excited over eczema clinical trial results - November 20th, 2014 [November 20th, 2014]
- aveeno baby eczema moisturizing cream | Sample Promo - Video - November 20th, 2014 [November 20th, 2014]
- Why I am sharing my eczema journey and what I deal with everyday living with eczema - Video - November 20th, 2014 [November 20th, 2014]
- Cetaphil Restoraderm Restoring Formulated Eczema - Video - November 20th, 2014 [November 20th, 2014]
- Cetaphil Restoraderm Restoring Moisturizer 10 Fluid - Video - November 20th, 2014 [November 20th, 2014]
- Childhood Eczema Cure With Kangen Water - Testimonial - Video - November 22nd, 2014 [November 22nd, 2014]
- Natural Remedies for Eczema - The Best Eczema Treatment - Video - November 23rd, 2014 [November 23rd, 2014]
- Eczema in Kids - Read More About It - Video - November 23rd, 2014 [November 23rd, 2014]
- Hypoallergenic labels may not be accurate - November 23rd, 2014 [November 23rd, 2014]
- Danielle Sheehan's life transformed after Botox eradicates her eczema - November 25th, 2014 [November 25th, 2014]
- Eczema's effects can be bone-deep - November 25th, 2014 [November 25th, 2014]
- New recommendations for treating kids with eczema - November 25th, 2014 [November 25th, 2014]
- Eczema cases rising among U.S. children - November 25th, 2014 [November 25th, 2014]
- Eczema Cases Rising Among U.S. Children: Report - November 25th, 2014 [November 25th, 2014]
- New guidelines released for treating kids with eczema - Video - November 25th, 2014 [November 25th, 2014]
- TCM Recipe Natural Herbal Eczema Cream Review - Video - November 25th, 2014 [November 25th, 2014]
- New product to heal eczema to use topically and progress pictures - Video - November 25th, 2014 [November 25th, 2014]
- 15 Proven Natural Cures for Eczema - Baby dermatitis: how ... - November 26th, 2014 [November 26th, 2014]
- Aveeno Moisturizing Bar - Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream - Video - November 26th, 2014 [November 26th, 2014]
- How to psychologically & physically confront eczema in you. - Video - November 26th, 2014 [November 26th, 2014]
- Woman, 21, left looking sunburnt by severe eczema finally has the perfect complexion - thanks to a 'magical' cream - November 27th, 2014 [November 27th, 2014]
- Aveeno Baby Sunscreen - Aveeno Baby Coupons - Aveeno Baby Eczema - Video - November 27th, 2014 [November 27th, 2014]
- How I cured my eczema in just over 10 days and you can to. My personal review - Video - November 28th, 2014 [November 28th, 2014]