A group of skin experts claim that exposing your child to one thing at a very young age might reduce the likelihood of developing the irritating condition in later life
A new study suggests having one thing in the house could potentially help stave off eczema in children who are genetically at risk of developing the skin condition. Academics claim that having a dog during “early life” could hold a “protective effect”.
However, the researchers were quick to point out that their study didn’t explore the impact of dog exposure on existing cases of eczema. And they warned parents that bringing a dog into homes with such children might actually exacerbate the symptoms.
Atopic eczema, notorious for causing itchy skin, is said to result from a mix of genetic and environmental triggers, though its exact causative interplay remains somewhat elusive.
In an attempt to shed light on this complex interaction, a global consortium that included scholars from the University of Edinburgh scrutinised data from 280,000 individuals. They aimed to discern how those genetically predisposed to eczema might be influenced by certain environmental factors like pet ownership, breastfeeding habits, or the presence of siblings in their household.
Their findings revealed that youngsters carrying a specific genetic mutation linked to a higher eczema risk seemed less likely to develop the ailment with early canine contact.
“We detected an observational association between early-life dog exposure and reduction in prevalence of atopic eczema,” the international team wrote in the medical journal Allergy.
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Researchers conducted an initial study on more than 25,000 individuals, indicating a potential interaction between seven environmental factors – antibiotic use, cat ownership, dog ownership, breastfeeding, elder sibling, smoking and washing practices – and at least one genetic variant for eczema, reports Bristol Live.
A further analysis of data from nearly 255,000 people suggested a “nominally significant” link between owning a dog in early life and a variation in the genetic code near a protein involved in immune cell function and inflammation, known as interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R). Experts believed these findings indicated that the IL-7R protein could be a potential target for future eczema treatments or prevention.
Professor Sara Brown, from the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: “The most difficult questions I’m asked by parents in clinic are about why their child has eczema, and how they can help.
“We know that genetic make-up affects a child’s risk of developing eczema, and previous studies have shown that owning a pet dog may be protective, but this is the first study to show how this may occur at a molecular level.
“More work is needed, but our findings mean we have a chance to intervene in the rise of allergic disease, to protect future generations.”
Dr Marie Standl, an epidemiology expert from research group Helmholtz Munich, said: “This study sheds light on why some children develop eczema in response to environmental exposures while others don’t.
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“Not every preventive measure works for everyone, and that’s precisely why gene-environment studies are crucial. They help us move toward more personalised, effective prevention strategies.”