Early exposure to dogs cuts eczema risks

Study gives insight into causes of eczema in children, influence of environment

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Early exposure to pet dogs may lower the risk of developing atopic eczema — a condition characterised by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin — among children who are genetically prone to the condition.

Eczema is an itchy skin disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental effects, but little is known about how the two interact. The findings provide new insights into what could cause eczema in children and how environmental factors may influence genetic risk, experts say.

The study did not look at the effect of dog exposure in the treatment of existing eczema, and experts caution that introducing a dog may make symptoms worse in some children.