12:21
Monday 31st October 2022
Eczema is known as a difficult and sometimes annoying condition to deal with, but it can have a positive side.
Eczema occurs when the skin becomes inflamed, causing irritation and itching, and is a common and multifaceted disease that affects thousands of people. However, while annoying, its presence could mean that you are protected against skin cancer.
And according to research from King’s College London, having eczema triggers an immune response that, according to them, could prevent tumors from forming.
This immune response works by eliminating potentially dangerous cancer cells from the surface of the skin.
Eczema sometimes leads to a loss of structural proteins in the outer layers of the skin, which leads to a defect in the skin barrier.
In the study, the mice were genetically engineered to replicate some of the skin defects found in people with eczema.
The researchers compared the effects of two carcinogenic chemicals in mice.
They found that the number of melanoma tumors in mice with defects was six times lower than in those without defects.
Read also: For eczema sufferers … a list of the best and worst foods to eat
Consequently, the results indicate that defects in what is known as the epidermal barrier protected the mice from developing benign tumors.
The study, published in the journal eLife, was the first of its kind to show that allergy caused by skin blemishes can protect against skin cancer.
However, the researchers also found that both types of mice were equally likely to develop cancer-related mutations as the other.
Speaking about the research, Professor Fiona Watt said: ‘We are thrilled with our findings as they establish a clear link between cancer susceptibility and allergic skin condition in our experimental model. body is an important cancer therapeutic strategy. “
He added: “I hope our study will provide some comfort to eczema sufferers and that this annoying skin condition can be beneficial in some circumstances.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Mike Turner commented, “Skin cancer is on the rise in many countries and any understanding of the body’s ability to prevent tumors from forming is invaluable in fighting this type of cancer. These findings show that eczema can protect people from skin cancer supports theories links allergies to cancer prevention and opens new avenues to explore while providing (small) relief for eczema sufferers. “
However, while the study has broken new ground and provided insights into the relationship between eczema and skin cancer, there is an important caveat. It is important to consider the possibility of a new theory that proves otherwise.
