The Impact of Indoor Environmental Factors on Skin Hydration of Children with Atopic Dermatitis: Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objective: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that is diagnosed by clinical characteristics including itchiness, eczema, dry skin, etc. High levels of indoor air pollutants may exacerbate atopic diseases, along with various allergic respiratory diseases, especially for those who spend most of their lives indoors. This study was conducted to evaluate the main components responsible for the aggravation of AD symptoms. Methods: A total of 31 patients with AD aged 6 months and 6 years old were enrolled. The measurement of air quality included particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5), temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 in their homes. The symptom severity of AD was assessed by the daily record of symptom scores and the degree of skin hydration. Results: The skin hydration level at the most severe area selected by the patient’s caregiver was decreased by median 1.7% (interquartile range [IQR], 0.4%–3.0%) or median 15% (IQR, 5.3%–24%) with a unit increase of indoor PM2.5 (P= 0.0133) or room temperature (P= 0.0034). CO2 also showed a potentially negative association with the change of skin hydration level but it was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our study showed that indoor PM2.5 and temperature could impact the aggravation of skin hydration in children. Therefore, further studies including a large number of cases and interventions are necessary.