Umeå University study links infant eczema location to food allergy risk

A study from Umeå University indicates that infants with eczema located on the head, neck, and hands are at a higher risk of developing food allergies compared to those with eczema only on the body.

Research involving approximately 4,500 children from the Northpop cohort found that eczema involving the head, neck, hands, and body was linked to a fourfold increase in the risk of food allergy by 18 months of age. Even eczema limited to the head, neck, and hands showed a connection to food allergies, whereas eczema appearing solely on the body did not.

Researchers suggest that eczema may impair the skin barrier, allowing allergens to trigger flare-ups in areas that frequently come into contact with food, such as the face and hands. Stina Bodén, a researcher at the Department of Clinical Science, emphasizes the importance of early eczema treatment to strengthen the skin barrier. Despite these findings, researchers advise parents to allow children to explore and eat food to support developmental eating skills.