Link to Low Levels of Sunlight and Allergy and Eczema

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.pcmd.ac.uk/news.php?id=310

[font face=Times, Serif][font size=5]Link to Low Levels of Sunlight and Allergy and Eczema[/font]
[font size=4]Increased exposure to sunlight may reduce the risk of both food allergies and eczema in children, according to a new scientific study published this week.[/font]

[font size=3]Researchers from the European Centre for Environment & Human Health, along with several Australian institutions, have found that children living in areas with lower levels of sunlight are at greater risk of developing food allergies and the skin condition eczema, compared to those in areas with higher UV.

The research team used data from a study of Australian children and analysed how rates of food allergy, eczema and asthma varied throughout the country. As well as finding a link between latitude and allergies to peanut and egg, the results showed that on average children in the south of the country are twice as likely to develop eczema as those in the north.

The report builds upon existing evidence that suggests exposure to the sun may play a role in rising levels of food allergy and eczema. Sunlight is important because it provides our body with the fuel to create vitamin D in the skin, and locations closer to the equator typically receive higher levels of sunshine. Australia is a particularly good place for this type of study as it spans nearly 3000 miles from north to south, with a large variation in climate, day length and sun strength - from Queensland in the north to Tasmania in the south.

Dr Nick Osborne, who led the research, believes these findings provide us with an important insight into the prevalence of food allergies and eczema, which appear to be on the increase. Dr Osborne also cautioned that exposure to sunlight can vary for a host of reasons beyond latitude, such as local climate variations and behaviours, and these factors will also need to be considered.

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[Heddi]

1. Totally antectdotal, but I have a little eczematic (?) patch on my legs

and it's worse during the winter, okay during the summer, but when I lived in Florida, I had not ONE flare up. I also was in the sun every.day (except for days that I worked) and had the best tan of my pale, pasty life. Move back to seattle and within 4 months the itchy eczema is back. I always attributed it to dryer skin in the winter b/c of heaters. My dermatologist in Fl said that the humidity in Fl keeps it at bay.

[hedgehog]

3. My brother used to have terrible eczema on his legs every winter,

but we always thought is was from the irritation due to the old style galoshes we all wore back then.

[flamingdem]

2. I was told by a dermatologist

that eczema is inherited, it's a genetic thing and if you look you will find a family member who has it. Of course certain conditions will cause flare ups.

[SheilaT]

4. And children these days

at least in this country, spend far less time outside than they used to.