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New birth cohort indicates neighborhood socioeconomic status correlates with childhood skin barrier health

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Neighborhood socioeconomic status is associated with transepidermal water loss in children according to new research being presented at the 2025 AAAAI / WAO Joint Congress in San Diego, CA, later this month.

"While prior studies have shown skin barrier function, as measured by transepidermal water loss, is highly variable, our research is among the first to identify community and environmental characteristics to be associated with skin barrier function. Future research will explore other environmental contributors to disrupted skin barriers including temperature, humidity and air pollution," said lead author Patrick H. Ryan, PhD.

Among the children enrolled in the Childhood Allergies and the NeOnatal Environment (CANOE) birth cohort, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured in children at one year of age. The participant's address at birth was geocoded and linked to an index of neighborhood deprivation and US Census tract data including the percent of the population in poverty, without health insurance, having less than high school education and with vacant housing. The association between each neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) indicator and TEWL was determined using separate linear regression models adjusting for the child's sex, reported parental race and study location.

Among the 252 CANOE participants, 55% were female, 68% White, 19% Black and 13% were another race. The overall neighborhood deprivation index, poverty and vacant housing were significantly and positively associated with increased TEWL, while health insurance status and education were not related, suggesting that lower neighborhood socioeconomic status is associated with increased TEWL in young children. The study results suggest that social determinants of health (SDoH) may be potential targets to improve skin barrier function and possibly reduce associated atopic disease in children.

Visit aaaai.org to . Research presented at the , February 28 – March 3 in San Diego, CA, is published in an online supplement to (JACI).

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology () is the leading membership organization of more than 7,100 allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists and other professionals with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI is the go-to resource for patients living with allergies, asthma and immune deficiency disorders.

Media Contact

Candace Archie, The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, (414) 272-6071, [email protected], aaaai.org 

SOURCE The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology