 Eczema affects one in 10 babies |
Scientists have identified two blood chemicals linked to itchy eczema, offering new treatment possibilities.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong devised an "itchometer" that was worn by 24 children and monitored how much they scratched while they slept.
Researchers found that as scratching increased, so did levels of two specific blood chemicals, reported the British Journal of Dermatology.
A British expert said the finding could point to the skin problem's root cause.
Wrist movement
One in 10 babies are affected by the dry, scaly, skin rashes of eczema, and the condition can persist into adulthood.
Sufferers can be treated with steroid creams, but the mechanisms behind the "eczema itch" are complex and poorly understood.
The latest research adds to evidence that two specific chemicals found in the blood - "brain-derived neurotrophic factor" (BDNF) and "substance P" - are somehow connected to itchy sensations.Read more...
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