Maternal stress during pregnancy increases the risk of eczema in children.

Eczema in children is a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by patches of dry, scaly skin and intense itching.

Illustrative image.

A study published in the journal Nature suggests that maternal stress during pregnancy may contribute to eczema (atopic dermatitis) in children, through a biological mechanism that has been identified for the first time.

Eczema in children is a common skin condition characterized by dry, scaly patches of skin and intense itching. According to the authors, the cause may stem from an increase in the hormone cortisol due to maternal stress, causing the immune system and sensory nerve cells in the fetal skin to overreact, leading to the risk of developing the disease.

Experiments conducted on pregnant mice showed that those subjected to mild stress by being confined in a narrow tube under bright light for 30 minutes, three times a day, for five consecutive days, had elevated cortisol levels in their blood and amniotic fluid.

After birth, the offspring of these mothers almost all exhibited eczema-like symptoms when lightly rubbed on the vulnerable skin area, while the offspring of the control group did not develop similar lesions.

Scientists emphasize that these results cannot yet prove a direct causal link in humans, as they were only conducted on mice, but they suggest a similar possibility in fetuses.

If this mechanism is confirmed in humans, managing stress during pregnancy could become an effective preventative measure, helping to reduce the risk of eczema and other allergic diseases in children.

PV (compiled)

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/me-cang-thang-khi-mang-thai-con-de-mac-benh-cham-519573.html