Stress can cause eczema to flare-up - now we know why
The study shows "how a feeling, such as psychological stress, can translate into a biological event, namely inflamed skin", says co-author Shenbin Liu, a neurobiologist at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
Prenatal stress induces subtle skin barrier dysfunction and predisposes offspring to type 2 immune responses, indicated by elevated transepidermal water loss and increased IL-5 and IL-9.
Explaining the mental-health burden of atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis significantly increases risk of anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD and emotional-processing difficulties, mediated by both psychosocial impact and biological mechanisms.