A new study from Ireland's Trinity College Dublin, published in JCI Insight, suggests that a vaccine "tailored to Atopic Dermatitis" might help treat eczema flare-ups in kids. As many as 25% of kids have eczema. It can also be very hard to treat and even identify the itchy, flaky skin it causes. Because flare-ups can be caused by many things and drug tolerance is growing, an eczema vaccine would be a huge step forward.
Ava Shamban, MD, a physician in Beverly Hills, says that eczema is caused by an
immune response. Dr. Shamban says, "Eczema is an immune response that is
often genetic and is often set off by environmental factors [such as irritants,
allergens, foods] or stress." "Atopic dermatitis is a type of
dermatitis that eczema belong to." The trigger will set off the body's
natural defense system, which will cause inflammation and soreness that show up
as red, itchy, dry, scaly skin.
The main focus of this study was on Staphylococcus aureus, which is the most
common germ that causes that immune reaction. "We find a systemic and
cutaneous immunological signature linked to S. aureus skin infection in a group
of children with atopic dermatitis," the study says.
How Does That Lead to a Patch For Eczema?
There needs to be new ways to treat and stop infected eczema flare-ups in kids,
says Dr. Julianne Clowry, the lead author of the study and an expert
dermatologist. "Right now, there aren't many strategies that work, and
when they do, the effects may only last a short time because symptoms often
come back." Antibiotics are sometimes necessary, but scientists are
working hard to find other solutions because antibacterial resistance is
becoming a bigger problem.
It's hard to treat eczema in kids, and flare-ups often get infected. And
getting that mark means getting care that is more focused and works better.
That could lead to a shot against acne.
"All of these things make a customized vaccine a very appealing target
because it could lessen the severity of eczema, improve outcomes over time,
lower the need for antibiotics, and lower the risk of complications and
possibly the development of other atopic diseases like asthma and
hayfever," says Dr. Clowry.
"More work needs to be done to make these results more general by looking
at a larger group of people," says Rachel McLoughlin, a professor of
immunology at Trinity and the study's lead author. "This will help make
sure that the patterns found are the same across age groups and subgroups with
more racial and ethnic diversity." We think that a deeper knowledge of how
the immune system reacts to the germs S. aureus in eczema could greatly improve
treatment methods and take a huge step forward in the control of eczema.
