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Baby Skin Microbes May Predict Eczema, Allergies
11 Sep
Summary
- Skin bacteria levels at 2-3 months can indicate future eczema and food allergies.
- Staph bacteria increases signal higher risk for eczema with food allergies.
- Microbial sharing between mothers and infants impacts skin microbiome.
Microscopic organisms residing on a baby's skin may offer an early indication of eczema or food allergies. New research published recently in the journal Allergy reveals distinct alterations in the skin's microbiome in infants who are about to develop these conditions. Specifically, higher quantities of staph bacteria detected on infants' skin at two to three months of age were associated with the later emergence of eczema accompanied by food allergies.
Researchers analyzed over a thousand skin swabs from 429 infants, noting that elevated Staphylococcus bacteria levels correlated with an increased risk of developing both eczema and food allergies by age one. The study also observed significant microbial exchange between mothers and their infants, suggesting that close contacts can influence an infant's developing skin microbiome. Future research will continue to track these children to explore links between early-life skin microbes and subsequent health issues like asthma.
