The effect of house dust mite sensitization on skin dermis thickness in children with allergic respiratory diseases.

Introduction: An impaired skin barrier has been reported in allergic diseases.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate dermis thickness in children with house dust allergy without skin symptoms.

Material and methods: This cross-sectional study included children aged 4-18 years with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. Participants were divided into three groups: healthy controls (n = 50), patients sensitized to house dust mites (n = 60), and patients with negative house dust mite tests (n = 48). The thickness of the dermis layers of the skin was measured at the cubital fossa using an ultrasound.

Results: The median age and gender distribution were similar across the house dust mite-positive and -negative groups and the healthy control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of dermis thickness (p = 0.053). Absolute eosinophils and eosinophil percentage were significantly negatively correlated with dermis (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between total IgE, house dust mite specific IgE and skin test values and skin thickness (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the impact of house dust mite sensitization on skin thickness, offering potential contributions to the management and treatment strategies of allergic diseases.