At the 31st European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, researchers presented a non-invasive test that may help predict eczema development in babies.
The study behind the test development involved 450 children, among which were 300 term newborns and 150 preterm newborns. All participants were followed for up to 2 years.
For the study, the researchers utilized tape strips to collect skin samples to test for skin biomarkers. In term children, they collected skin samples from the cheek and back of the hand within the first few days of life and again at 2 months. In preterm children, they collected the samples from between the shoulder blades within the first month of life and also from the cheek at 2 months.
The scientists noticed that the specific immune biomarker, Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine (TARC), was a key predictor of atopic dermatitis. The higher levels of this biomarker were associated with a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis.