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NEW RESEARCH FINDS LOW RATES OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR ECZEMA PATIENTS DESPITE CLEAR CORRELATION

National Eczema Association publishes a new paper on eczema and mental health in Skin Health and Disease.

NOVATO, Calif., June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Eczema Association (NEA) today announced the second publication from its real-world research on eczema and its impacts on mental health. The results were published in Skin Health and Disease in June 2024. The first paper from this research, which examined eczema patients' perceptions of how mental health relates to eczema symptoms, was published in Dermatitis in March 2024.

National Eczema Association: www.Nationaleczema.Org (PRNewsfoto/National Eczema Association)

Over 31 million Americans live with atopic dermatitis (eczema), a chronic skin disease without a known cause or cure that is associated with significant and multifaceted burden. Research has already shown that eczema is strongly associated with symptoms of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression and social isolation. However, until now there has not been an understanding of what type of mental health support eczema patients receive or don't receive from their primary eczema provider.

"This is the first study to explore this important topic for the eczema patient community," said Jessica Johnson, lead author of the study and director of community engagement and research at NEA.

As part of the study, adult eczema patients (18 years or older) as well as the primary caregivers of younger eczema patients (children and teens ages 8 to 17 years) completed a survey about mental health and eczema's relationship to mental health. The survey included questions about eczema symptoms, mental health symptoms, perceptions of the connection between eczema and mental health and experiences accessing mental health services.

Mental health services in the survey were defined as, but not limited to: counseling with a mental health provider; cognitive behavioral therapy; social support groups; alternative mental health therapy (such as music or art therapy); and/or mental health medications.

Important findings from the study include:

42% of patients with AD and caregivers of children/teens with eczema never spoke about mental health with primary eczema care providers

50% of patients were never asked about mental health by their primary eczema care provider during any visits

64% of adult patients and caregivers of young patients with eczema were not referred to mental health resources

The patients more likely to be referred to mental health services included children, men, those with limited education and people seeing non-specialists

If patients were referred to mental health resources, the most common referrals were to counseling services (23% of referrals), alternative mental health therapy (15%), cognitive behavioral therapy (13%) and peer/social support groups (12%)

Among those who received a referral for mental healthcare, 57% utilized the recommended services

The patients more likely to have never spoken with their primary eczema care providers about mental health included women, people of low income and people seeing specialists (such as dermatologists or allergists) for their primary eczema care

Young adults 18–34 years old frequently reported not being asked about their mental health but wanted to be

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This survey showed that a significant portion of patients are not being asked about or did not speak to their eczema care provider about mental health. Furthermore, most eczema patients are not receiving referrals for mental health support.

"We know about the emotional and psychological toll that eczema can take on patients of all ages," added Wendy Smith Begolka, study senior author and chief strategy officer at NEA. "Ideally, patients and healthcare providers would feel comfortable discussing mental health during their visits. Our study highlights the opportunity to help this discussion occur more consistently."

More research is needed to identify the most effective mental health interventions for eczema patients, as well as current barriers to referring patients to mental healthcare. Future studies may also help us better understand the role of patient advocacy organizations, like NEA, in helping to mitigate the overall mental health burden of eczema.

Additional findings and insights from this study are expected to be published in the coming months.

For more information about this study and other research conducted by NEA, visit NationalEczema.Org/surveys.

About the National Eczema AssociationFounded in 1988, the National Eczema Association (NEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the largest patient advocacy organization serving the over 31 million Americans who live with eczema and those who care for them. NEA provides programs and resources to elevate the diverse lived experience of eczema, and help patients and caregivers understand their disease, actively engage in their care, find strength in one another – and improve their lives. Additionally, NEA advances critical eczema research and partners with key stakeholders to ensure the patient voice is represented and valued in education, care and treatment decision-making. The eczema community is at an exciting juncture, with increased recognition of the seriousness and burden of eczema and a surge in scientific interest and development of new treatments. Bolstered by NEA's strategic plan, Blueprint 2025, we are driving toward the ultimate vision: a world without eczema. Learn more at NationalEczema.Org.

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SOURCE National Eczema Association

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NIAID Scientists Discover Probiotic Treatment For Eczema

NIAID research has led to the availability of a new over-the-counter topical eczema probiotic. The probiotic is based on the discovery by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, that bacteria present on healthy skin called Roseomonas mucosa can safely relieve eczema symptoms in adults and children. R. Mucosa-based topical interventions could simplify or complement current eczema management, when used in consultation with an individual's healthcare provider. A milestone for eczema sufferers, the availability of an R. Mucosa-based probiotic is the result of seven years of scientific discovery and research in NIAID's Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM).

Eczema-;also known as atopic dermatitis-;is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects approximately 20% of children and 10% of adults worldwide. The condition is characterized by dry, itchy skin that can compromise the skin's barrier, which functions to retain moisture and keep out allergens. This can make people with eczema more vulnerable to bacterial, viral and fungal skin infections. R. Mucosa is a commensal bacterium, meaning it occurs naturally as part of a typical skin microbiome. Individuals with eczema experience imbalances in the microbiome and are deficient in certain skin lipids (oils). NIAID researchers demonstrated that R. Mucosa can help restore those lipids.

Scientists led by Ian Myles, M.D., M.P.H., chief of the LCIM Epithelial Research Unit, found specific strains of R. Mucosa reduced eczema-related skin inflammation and enhanced the skin's natural barrier function in both adults and children. To arrive at this finding, Dr. Myles and colleagues spearheaded a spectrum of translational research on R. Mucosa. They isolated and cultured R. Mucosa in the laboratory, conducted preclinical (laboratory/animal) and clinical (human) studies, and made the bacteria available for commercial, non-therapeutic development. The R. Mucosa-based probiotic released this week is formulated by Skinesa and called Defensin.

In Phase 1/2 open-label and Phase 2 blinded, placebo-controlled clinical studies, most people experienced greater than 75% improvement in eczema severity following application of R. Mucosa. Improvement was seen on all treated skin sites, including the inner elbows, inner knees, hands, trunk and neck. The researchers also observed improvement in skin barrier function. Additionally, most participants needed fewer corticosteroids to manage their eczema, experienced less itching, and reported a better quality of life following R. Mucosa therapy. These benefits persisted after treatment ended: therapeutic R. Mucosa strains remained on the skin for up to eight months in study participants who were observed for that duration.

To expand the potential use of R. Mucosa, NIAID will conduct an additional clinical trial to generate further evidence on its efficacy in reducing eczema symptoms. Those data could form the basis of an application to the Food and Drug Administration to enable the product to be regulated as a nonprescription drug and made accessible to a broader population of people with eczema. Study results are expected in 2024.

Why Do 1 In 10 Americans Get Eczema? Is It Too Much Salt?

A high sodium diet may increase the risk of eczema, according to researchers at UC San Francisco, who found that eating just one extra gram of sodium per day – the amount in a Big Mac – increases the likelihood of flares by 22%.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic disease that causes dry, itchy skin. It's one of the most common skin conditions, affecting more than 31 million people in the United States, and 1 in 10 people will develop it at some point.

It has become increasingly common in recent years, especially in industrialized countries, implicating environmental and lifestyle factors like diet.

Most Americans eat too much salt and can safely reduce their intake to recommended levels."

Katrina Abuabara, MD

Sodium, which most people consume in the form of salt, increases the risk of hypertension and heart disease. And scientists recently discovered that sodium is stored in the skin, where it may play a role in the inflammation in eczema.

Limiting dietary sodium could be an easy way for eczema patients to manage their disease.

"Most Americans eat too much salt and can safely reduce their intake to recommended levels," said Katrina Abuabara, MD, associate professor of dermatology at UCSF and corresponding author of the study, which appears June 5, 2024, in JAMA Dermatology.

"Eczema flares can be difficult for patients to cope with," said Abuabara, who is also associate adjunct professor of epidemiology at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, "especially when they are unable to anticipate them and don't have recommendations on what they can do to avoid them."

For their cross-sectional study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 215,000 people between 30 and 70 years old from the UK (United Kingdom) Biobank, which includes urine samples and electronic medical records.

They could tell how much sodium each person was eating from urine samples; and they could see whether people had a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, as well as the severity, from prescription codes.

They found that each additional gram of sodium excreted in urine over 24 hours was associated with 11% higher odds of an eczema diagnosis; 16% higher odds of having an active case; and 11% higher odds of increased severity.

Then, they looked at 13,000 U.S. Adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that eating just one additional gram a day of sodium – about half a teaspoon of table salt – was associated with 22% higher odds that someone would have an active case of eczema.

Authors: Other UCSF authors include, Brenda M. Chiang, MS; Morgan Ye, MPH; Aheli Chattopadhyay, BS; Yagmur Halezeroglu, MS; and Erin L. Van Blarigan, ScD.

Funding: The Medical Student in Aging Research Program; the National Institute on Aging (T35AG026736); and the National Eczema Association.

Disclosures: Please see the paper.

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