VIDEO: Environmental changes may be to blame for rise of atopy, atopic dermatitis

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The production of isocyanate compounds from the environment may explain the increasing prevalence of atopic dermatitis, according to a speaker at Masters of Pediatric Dermatology.

“We understand that the rate of allergies in general, but in particular atopic dermatitis, has gone up and up and up over the past few decades — far outpacing any kind of a specific genetic explanation,” Peter A. Lio, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Healio in an interview about his presentation. “We understand that there must be things in our exosome ... that are driving it.”

While not the only cause, Lio suggests that environmental factors such as exhaust from cars, wildfires and other situations that produce isocyanate compounds — which are poisonous to the microbiome and damage the skin barrier — can be the first clue into this increasing prevalence.

“This is a breakthrough of sorts,” Lio said, “and I think we are all trying to come to terms with how big is this breakthrough, what does it mean and what do we do about it.”