Impact of climate change on atopic dermatitis: A review by the International Eczema Council

Allergy. 2024 Jun;79(6):1455-1469. doi: 10.1111/all.16007. Epub 2024 Jan 24.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD), the most burdensome skin condition worldwide, is influenced by climatic factors and air pollution; however, the impact of increasing climatic hazards on AD remains poorly characterized. Leveraging an existing framework for 10 climatic hazards related to greenhouse gas emissions, we identified 18 studies with evidence for an impact on AD through a systematic search. Most climatic hazards had evidence for aggravation of AD the impact ranged from direct effects like particulate matter-induced AD exacerbations from wildfires to the potential for indirect effects like drought-induced food insecurity and migration. We then created maps comparing the past, present, and future projected burden of climatic hazards to global AD prevalence data. Data are lacking, especially from those regions most likely to experience more climatic hazards. We highlight gaps important for future research: understanding the synergistic impacts of climatic hazards on AD, long-term disease activity, the differential impact on vulnerable populations, and how basic mechanisms explain population-level trends.

Keywords: air pollution; atopic dermatitis; climate change; climatic hazards.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution / adverse effects
  • Climate Change*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / epidemiology
  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / etiology
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Prevalence