Breathing Dirty Air Might Raise Eczema Risks

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Cases of the autoimmune skin condition eczema appear to rise in areas most plagued by air pollution, new research shows.

Since data has long shown that rates of eczema -- clinically known as atopic dermatitis -- increase along with industrialization, dirty air might be a connecting link, according to the team from Yale University.

“Showing that individuals in the United States who are exposed to particulate matter [in air] are more likely to have eczema deepens our understanding of the important health implications of ambient air pollution," wrote researchers led by Yale School of Medicine investigator Gloria Chen.