In an article published in The Conversation, experts detailed how chemical pollutants may increase the risk of atopic dermatitis. Although genetics play a role in the development of the disease, environmental risk factors—including contact with certain chemicals, exposure to wildfire smoke, and residential proximity to factories and major roadways—are major predictive factors as to whether a child may develop atopic dermatitis.
As a result, up to 20% of children in industrialized countries may be diagnosed with the disease. The experts explained that the incidence of atopic dermatitis is often far higher in industrialized countries compared with developing countries; incidence has increased significantly since 1970 when the production of diisocyanates and xylene to manufacture common household products first began. Detergents; paint products; plastics; cigarettes; and synthetic fabrics such as spandex, nylon, and polyester have all been linked to atopic dermatitis.
In a recent study, researchers used U.S. Environmental Protection Agency databases to determine areas of the United States where atopic dermatitis was most prevalent and which chemicals were most used in those areas. They found that diisocyanates and xylene were the most correlated with atopic dermatitis hotspots; the chemicals are known to be present in cigarette and wildfire smoke and in automobile exhaust in the form of isocyanates. There was a trend towards increases in atopic dermatitis, itch, and inflammation with exposure to isocyanates and xylene.
Further, the experts indicated that beneficial bacteria in the skin microbiome create ceramides that protect the skin from infections. The concentration of ceramides on the skin has been found to be inversely associated with the risk of developing atopic dermatitis in infants. In a separate study, researchers exposed the ceramide- and other lipid–producing bacteria Roseomonas mucosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and S cohnii to levels of isocyanates and xylene like those in a real-world setting and discovered that the bacteria caused lipid production to cease as well as initiated the production of lysine. Despite protecting the bacteria from pollutants, lysine did not provide skin protection. Additionally, the harmful bacteria S aureus proliferated on isocyanate- and xylene-based surfaces like spandex, nylon, and polyester bedsheets.
The experts underscored that improving environmental pollutant detection and tracking in communities may help identify at-risk individuals and lead to the implementation of better air filtration systems to remove the chemicals. They recommended that patients with atopic dermatitis or those with children at risk of the disease should avoid products that limit the growth of beneficial bacteria and quit smoking.
