Infantile eczema may be caused by maternal stress during pregnancy

Often intense itching that appears in bursts on the face, neck folds, limbs, etc., accompanied by red patches, oozing, and dry skin. This is eczema, or atopic dermatitis. A French study, published on August 27 in the journal Nature , reveals how, in infants, this chronic, non-contagious inflammatory skin disease could result from significant maternal stress during pregnancy.

Eczema, often associated with other allergies (food, asthma attacks, etc.), develops from the age of 3 months. Its prevalence is estimated at 8% or 9% in children aged 6-7 years and 10% in those aged 13-14 years. The disease generally disappears during childhood, "but 10% to 15% of cases persist into adulthood," observes Inserm .

The underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Family studies have shown that eczema, like asthma and other allergic diseases, is associated with genetic predisposition factors. These factors are thought to lead to an alteration of the skin barrier, with two deleterious effects. Environmental allergens (pollen, dust, soap, etc.) then penetrate the epidermis, where they overstimulate the immune system. And the skin becomes more sensitive to physical factors: heat, overly dry air, sweat, rough tissue, etc.

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