Asthma

New Research Fuels Greater Understanding of Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis in Children and Adolescents

BOSTON (Aug. 16, 2012)  Information presented at American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting by Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, FAAD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist, chief, division of pediatric and adolescent dermatology and professor of pediatrics and medicine (dermatology), Rady Children’s Hospital and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.  Dr. Eichenfield is also a member of the National Eczema Association Scientific Advisory Committee.

OVERVIEW
For the millions of children and adolescents affected by chronic skin conditions such as atopic

Education Resource Center: What Causes Eczema

The exact cause of eczema is unknown. You might have inherited a tendency for eczema. You may have a family member who has eczema or who has hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or asthma. Many doctors think eczema is linked to allergic disease, such as hay fever or asthma. Doctors call this the atopic triad.

Filaggrin Gene: Link Between Eczema and Asthma

W.H. Irwin McLean, Professor of Human Genetics and head of the Division of Molecular Medicine, University of Dundee, Scotland, shares the story of how he and his colleagues found mutations in the filaggrin gene.

DNA

Q: Does DNA or genetics have anything to do with asthma and eczema in children? And why does it skip generations?

A: The simplest answer is that DNA has everything to do with what we’re talking about, and it doesn’t really skip generations. When we talk about allergic disease ranging from eczema to hay fever and allergies and asthma, there really is a genetic predisposition to what families will carry. The true risk is actually any history of atopic disease. We are seeing fewer generations of people who didn’t have histories of hay fever or allergies in the past develop these diseases.