Monthly Archives: June 2022

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The itch that rashes: Treating and understanding eczema - El Paso Inc.

Jessica Simpson is famous for speaking her truth and that includes sharing details about her life with eczema.

I experienced it in junior high and high school, and after cheerleading, I would just put on my letter[man] jacket or a sweatshirt because people would hug me and be like, What is that on your arm? recalled the singer turned fashion mogul in an interview with People.

Im open about my insecurities and my flaws, and if I can help inspire anybody to feel better about themselves, thats why Im here, she added.

Simpsons willingness to discuss her challenges with atopic dermatitis (the most common form of eczema) has helped shine a light on a condition that many people would prefer to hide.

In fact, the emotional impact of the condition, along with the physical discomfort, may increase a persons risk of new depression and anxiety, according to a study published in 2020 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

While eczema is common in children and young adults, it can appear at any age. The condition seems to affect the same number of female and male children, but studies have shown it is more common in adult women than men.

Simpson isnt the only superstar who has been candid about her private struggles with this skin condition that 1 in 10 Americans develop at some point during their lifetime. Here are some household names with atopic dermatitis.

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Celebrities With Eczema Speak Out - Everyday Health

THURSDAY, June 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- There are no differences in effectiveness between the four main types of moisturizers for childhood eczema, according to a study published online May 23 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

Matthew J. Ridd, Ph.D., from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and colleagues compared the clinical effectiveness and safety of the four main emollient types. Children (aged 6 months to 12 years) with eczema were randomly assigned to lotions (137 children), creams (140 children), gels (135 children), and ointments (138 children).

The researchers observed no difference in eczema severity between emollient types over 16 weeks. Results remained unchanged even with multiple imputation, sensitivity, and subgroup analyses. There were also no differences seen in total number of adverse events between the treatment groups (36, 39, 40, and 35 percent for lotions, creams, gels, and ointments, respectively). However, stinging was less common with ointments (9 percent) compared with lotions (20 percent), creams (17 percent), and gels (19 percent).

"A study of this type has been long overdue. It has not been in the interest of the manufacturers to directly compare types of moisturizer in the way we have done in this trial," Ridd said in a statement. "Our findings challenge conventions about how often moisturizers need to be applied, which types are less likely to cause problems and which patients should be recommended certain types."

Abstract/Full Text

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Lotion, Cream, Gel, and Ointment Similarly Effective for Childhood Eczema - HealthDay News

Study findings provide evidence that preventative antibiotics improve health outcomes for babies and mothers, investigator say.

New research results showed that antibiotics given to women before a caesarean birth have no effect on the risk of early childhood conditions, such as asthma or eczema, according to investigators at the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick.

The results further support recommendations made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NIHCE), which claims that preventative antibiotics should be offered to mothers before undergoing C-sections. Updated in 2011, the guidance was created to minimize the risk of infection and notes that the mother will get the most benefit from antibiotics given shortly before C-sections compared with after the babys cord is clamped.

Although caesarean birth is common, so no known health harms are noted, if antibiotics are given before clamping the babys cord, it can cross the placenta and affect microbes in the babys gut. The microbes include bacteria that are expected to benefit the development and health of the immune system.

The research team compared the risk of allergy-related conditions in the first 5 years after birth in children born by both before and after the change in NIHCE guidelines, using records from several children born between 2006 and 2018 in United Kingdom-wide health care databases.

The results suggest that the policy of preventative antibiotics before a C-section has no effect on the risk of these early childhood conditions developing.

Maternal infections, such as wound infection, can be a risk in the period immediately after birth. Preventative antibiotics are of most benefit to the mother if given before the caesarean section is carried out, lead study author Dana Sumilo, MD, said in a statement. There is no known harm from these antibiotics to the babies born by caesarean birth, and our findings also suggest no effect on the risk of health conditions, such as asthma and eczema in early childhood.

Further, Andrew Shennan, clinical director at NIHR Clinical Research Network South London, added that these new findings are promising and provide more evidence that preventative antibiotics improve health outcomes for mothers and babies.

This arms clinicians with key evidence enabling them to ensure antibiotics are used wisely and at the optimum point for the most effective treatments, he said in the statement.

Reference

Antibiotics given shortly before caesarean birth not linked to asthma and eczema in young children. EurekAlert! News release. May 18, 2022. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/952933

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Antibiotics Given Before C-sections Are Not Linked to Asthma, Eczema in Young Children - Pharmacy Times

New Jersey, United States TheEczema Skin-Care Products Marketreport is the result of extensive and expert research into theEczema Skin-Care Productsindustry. TheEczema Skin-Care ProductsMarketreport explains what the market is all about, the market prognosis, several segmentations, and everything that falls under the markets umbrella. It also looks at major and secondary market drivers, market share, potential sales volume, regional analysis, and the markets key segments. The research also includes key variables that contribute to the markets growth as well as elements that might stifle the markets growth. The professionals at VM Reports applied precise research techniques and other analyses.

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Alliance Pharma Plc., Bausch Health Companies Inc., Bayer AG., AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., Johnson & Johnson, Mylan NV, Pfizer Inc., Encore Dermatology Inc., LEO Pharma AS., Loreal group, Nestle.

Eczema Skin-Care ProductsMarket Segmentation:

Eczema Skin-Care Products Market, By Type

Atopic Dermatitis Contact eczema Seborrheic eczema Nummular eczema Neurodermatitis Stasis dermatitis Dyshidrotic eczema

Eczema Skin-Care Products Market, By Product Type

Lotions and Ointments Cleansers Detergents Humidifiers

Eczema Skin-Care Products Market, By Distribution Channel

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Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Size, Scope and Forecast | Alliance Pharma Plc., Bausch Health Companies Inc., Bayer AG., AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly and...

Ceramides are lipid molecules that play an important role in the structure and barrier function of the skin, such as preventing moisture loss and protecting against environmental damage. Although the body produces ceramides, levels in the skin decline with age.

When ceramide levels decline, it can lead to drier, more sensitive skin or other issues. However, people can take supplements or use skin care products that contain ceramides to replenish their levels. Some research suggests that these may help improve skin health.

Keep reading to learn more about ceramides, their benefits, and potential drawbacks for the skin.

Ceramides a type of lipid made of sphingosine and a fatty acid constitute about 50% of the intercellular stratum corneum lipids. These are the lipids between the cells of the top layer of the epidermis.

Ceramides play a role in brain and nervous system development but are also important in maintaining healthy skin. They create a barrier that helps prevent moisture loss keeping skin hydrated, plump, and supple. The barrier also protects the skin from harmful irritants, bacteria, and other environmental toxins.

Learn more about the skin and its structure here.

Ceramides have multiple benefits for skin health.

The natural aging process and the overuse of harsh soaps or exfoliants can lead to ceramide loss in the skin.

When ceramide levels decline, the stratum corneum or protective outer barrier of the skin becomes compromised, and tiny cracks can form. This breakdown in the skin barrier can make it easier for infection and skin inflammation to occur.

Replenishing lost ceramides keeps the skin barrier healthy and functioning as it should.

Ceramides can lock in moisture and boost hydration. When skin is dehydrated, it can become rough, and cracks can develop.

When the skins barrier becomes compromised, it can lead to transepidermal epidermal water loss (TEWL). This water loss refers to the amount of water that passes through the epidermis, a layer in the skin, and evaporates on the skins surface. As a result of TEWL, the skin may then become dry and inflamed with an increased risk of developing inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, acne, and eczema.

Research shows that ceramide cream can significantly decrease TEWL, which, in turn, boosts skin hydration and improves barrier function.

Some studies also suggest that using ceramide moisturizers in conjunction with acne treatment can help combat the dry skin and irritation these treatments cause.

Increasing hydration also helps soften and smoothen the skin, which improves its overall look and feel.

As people age, their skin changes as it loses structural proteins, such as collagen, elastin, and keratin. This, and the other processes involved in the degradation of the skin barrier, leads to thinner skin and visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, lines, and sagging.

Ceramides have water-retaining properties that prevent moisture loss from the skin. Hydrated skin can help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, which are often more visible when the skin is dry.

Ceramide creams can also stimulate the production of keratinocytes, which make keratin. The increase of keratin helps rejuvenate the skin barrier and reduce signs of aging.

Exposure to sunlight and UV rays is responsible for 90% of the visible skin changes such as wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentary changes. Dermatologists refer to this as photoaging, and it is the direct result of cumulative sun damage over a lifetime.

A 2021 study found that using ceramide-containing moisturizers and sunscreens can protect the skin against UV damage to the skin barrier. In addition, the products seemed to improve skin hydration, help maintain normal cell turnover, and combat redness and hyperpigmentation.

Topical ceramides typically work well for most skin types, are safe for most people, and are not likely to cause side effects.

However, individuals should be aware that certain cosmetic products often contain multiple ingredients besides ceramides.

Therefore, as with any new addition to a skin care routine, performing a patch test before using it on a large area is good practice. This involves applying a small amount of product on an area of skin and waiting 24 hours for any reaction.

People should be aware that ceramide dietary supplements may contain allergens, such as gluten, soy nuts, or fish.

Natural ceramides are found in the skin, whereas skin care products can contain synthetic ceramides.

Plant-derived ceramides can support skin ceramides and are chemically similar. Foods that may contain ceramides include:

Various products contain ceramides, including:

Ceramides 2 and 3 often appear in the ingredients labels of products designed for the face and neck.

Ceramides may appear as ceramide AP, ceramide EOP, ceramide NG, ceramide NP, ceramide NS, and phytosphingosine, in the ingredients list of over the counter products. The label may also list sphingosine, an organic chemical compound involved in making ceramides.

Ceramides are lipids that play a central role in skin structure. They improve the barrier function, which helps prevent moisture loss and keeps the skin hydrated and supple.

The skin barrier also protects the body from harmful pathogens, irritants, and environmental toxins. Therefore, infections and other skin conditions can develop if it is compromised.

As people age, they naturally lose ceramides. However, a person can boost ceramide levels through topical ceramide creams or dietary supplements. These products may help improve skin health, boost barrier function and hydration, protect against harmful UV rays, and rejuvenate aging skin.

Typically, ceramides are safe. They are not likely to cause serious side effects. Although before using, people should perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check if they are sensitive to any ingredient in the product.

Excerpt from:
What are the benefits of ceramides for the skin? - Medical News Today

Researchers speculate that type two inflammation that occurs in allergic conditions may reduce levels of the ACE2 receptor on the surface of airway cells, where SARS-CoV-2s spike protein binds to. (Pictured: Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 under and electron microscope) NIAID

A new study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that those with food allergies are 50 percent less likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2. Along with the new finding, the research also found that obesity and a high body mass index (BMI) are factors for an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and that asthma or eczema did not increase the risk for infection, an NIHstatementexplains. Details on the study were published last month in theJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Researchers analyzed 4,000 people in 1,400 households, including minors, in theHuman Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2(HEROS) study. They noticed that individuals with a food allergy were about half as likely to become infected, reports Carly Cassella forScience Alert. Along with these findings, theHEROS data found that children 12 years or younger are just as likely to become infected with the virus as teens and adults (75 percent of infections in the children were asymptomatic). Data was collected between May 2020 and February 2021, before the widespread roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines among non-healthcare workers in the United States and before the widespread emergence of various variants of the virus, per a statement. The research also found that allergic conditions like asthma, despite being a respiratory illness,may offer some protection against severe cases of Covid-19.

"The HEROS study findings underscore the importance of vaccinating children and implementing other public health measures to prevent them from becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2, thus protecting both children and vulnerable members of their household from the virus," says Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy, and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in a statement.

Half of the study participants stated that they were diagnosed with either a food allergy, asthma, eczema or allergic rhinitisconditions that were confirmed by blood tests. Researchers then tracked SARS-CoV-2 infections among households by taking nasal swabs of participants every two weeks and filling out weekly surveys. If a participant developed symptoms of Covid-19, more nasal swabs and blood samples were taken, a statement explains. The team found that household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was lower in homes with individuals with food allergies, according to the study.

Researchers speculate that type two inflammationa normal immune response that can occur in response to infections or parasites but also occurs in allergic conditions like eczema and some asthmasmay reduce levels of the ACE2 receptor on the surface of airway cells. ACE2 is the receptor that the SARS-CoV-2s spike protein binds to, allowing the virus to enter cells. Having fewer ACE2 receptors limits the virus's ability to infect, per a statement. More research is needed to identify what other mechanisms may play a role in reducing the risk of viral infection, perScience Alert.

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Some Allergies Associated With Lower Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection - Smithsonian Magazine

Test tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive and negative" are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022.

Dado Ruvic | Reuters

The Biden administration has distributed 1,200 monkeypox vaccine doses for people who have had high-risk exposures to the virus, part of a nationwide public health response to stamp out the disease before it causes a major outbreak.

U.S. health officials, worried the virus is spreading faster than previously thought, have said the global outbreak of monkeypox is the largest ever. The World Health Organization said Wednesday that there are now more than 550 cases across 30 countries. In the U.S., at least 20 confirmed or suspected cases have been reported in 11 states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Utah and Washington state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"A monkeypox outbreak of this scale and scope across the world, it has not been seen before," Dr. Raj Panjabi, who leads the White House pandemic preparedness office, told reporters on a call last week.

However, CDC officials have sought to reassure the public that the arrival of monkeypox in the U.S. is vastly different from Covid-19, which blindsided the country two years ago. Scientists knew little about Covid when it first emerged and the U.S. had no vaccines or antiviral treatments to fight the virus in 2020.

Monkeypox, on the other hand, has been known to scientists since 1958 when the virus was first identified during outbreaks among monkeys kept for research purposes, and its transmission in humans has been studied since the 1970s. Global health authorities also have extensive experience successfully fighting smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated in 1980 after a successful global vaccination effort. Monkeypox is in the same virus family as smallpox though it is much milder.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters last week that the U.S. has been preparing for an outbreak from a virus like monkeypox for decades. The U.S. has millions of vaccine doses in the strategic national stockpile that protect against monkeypox and smallpox as well as antiviral pills to treat the diseases.

Dawn O'Connell, who leads the Health and Human Services office responsible for the strategic national stockpile, said on Friday that the U.S. has enough vaccine on hand to manage the current monkeypox outbreak. However, O'Connell would not disclose how many shots the U.S. has at the ready.

The U.S. has two vaccines but the preferred option is in shorter supply. Jynneos is a two-dose vaccine approved by the FDA in 2019 to prevent monkeypox in people ages 18 and older. The CDC generally recommends Jynneos over the other option, ACAM2000, which is an older generation smallpox vaccine that can have serious side effects.

Last week, CDC official Dr. Jennifer McQuiston said the U.S. has 1,000 doses of Jynneos available. However, the Danish biotech company that makes the shots, Bavarian Nordic, said the U.S. actually has a supply of more than 1 million Jynneos frozen doses stored in the U.S. and Denmark under an order placed in April 2020. The shots have a shelf life of three years.

The U.S. has ordered close to 30 million Jynneos doses since 2010 but 28 million of them expired, the spokesperson said.Bavarian Nordic plans to increase production this summer and has the capacity to produce 30 million shots a year, the spokesperson said.

The U.S. government also has a stockpile of more than 100 million doses of ACAM2000, made by Emergent BioSolutions, McQuiston told reporters last week. The U.S. had released 500 doses of Jynneos and 200 doses of ACAM2000 as of Tuesday, according to the CDC. The U.S.has also sent out 100 courses of the oral antiviral tecovirimat to the states, health officials said Friday.

"We want to ensure that people with high risk exposures have rapid access to vaccines and if they become sick, can receive appropriate treatment," Panjabi said on a call with reporters Friday. Jynneos and ACAM2000 can be administered before or after exposure to the virus. However, patients need to receive the vaccines within 4 days of exposure to prevent disease onset.

ACAM2000 has demonstrated high levels of protection against monkeypox in animal models and is expected to provide 85% protection against disease from the virus similar to earlier versions of smallpox vaccines, according to Mike Slifka, an immunologist at Oregon Health and Science University who has studied monkeypox. Less is known about Jynneos because the vaccine is newer but it produced reasonable antibody levels in humans and should protect against severe disease, Slifka said.

The CDC generally recommends Jynneos over ACAM2000 because it is considered safer. ACAM2000 can have serious side effects, and distributing the vaccine widely would require serious discussion, McQuiston said in a call with reporters last week. ACAM2000 uses a mild virus strain in the same family as monkeypox and smallpox that can still replicate, which means there's a risk that the live virus in the vaccine can spread in the human body or to other people.

ACAM2000 is administered with a two-pronged needle that is scratched into the upper arm and the virus then grows into a localized infection in the form of a blister. The patient can potentially spread the virus to other people, or to other parts of their body if they scratch the blister and then rub their eye for example, which can result in vision damage. The FDA warns that it's very important for people vaccinated with ACAM2000 to take proper care of the vaccination site so they don't spread the virus to other people or other parts of the body.

The CDC has said women who are pregnant or breast feeding, people with weak immune systems, those with skin conditions such as eczema or atopic dermatitis, and people with heart disease should not receive ACAM2000. In pregnant women, the virus can spread to the fetus and cause stillbirth. People with weak immune systems face a risk that the virus will grow uncontrollably and cause a dangerous infection, Slifka said. People with skin conditions such as eczema or atopic dermatitis are also at risk of the virus spreading on their skin which can turn into a life-threatening infection, he said.

The Jynneos vaccine, on the other hand, is not associated with these risks because it uses a virus strain that is no longer able to replicate in humans, according to Slifka. It is also administered with a normal syringe like other common shots such as the flu vaccine.

Given the potential side effects of ACAM2000, the vaccine would likely only see wide use in the context of a major smallpox epidemic because that virus is so deadly, according to Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease and vaccine expert at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. Monkeypox, on the other hand, is a much milder virus and no deaths have been reported in the recent cases in Europe and North America.

Smallpox can have a fatality rate as high as 30%, according to the WHO. The West African strain of monkeypox that appears to be driving the current outbreak likely has a mortality rate somewhere around 1%, though data is sparse because the virus has previously spread mostly in remote parts Africa. Most people recover within two to four weeks without specific medical treatment, according to the CDC. There's another monkeypox strain, Congo Basin, associated with a higher death rate of 3% to 10%, according to the WHO.

"We're very lucky that the outbreak right is the low virulence West African strain," said Dr. Rachel Roper, a professor of microbiology and immunology at East Carolina University who has studied monkeypox.

Though the U.S. has far more tools and more knowledge to fight monkeypox than it had against Covid in 2020, there are still many unknowns about the current outbreak. It's unclear why the virus is now spreading in countries outside West and Central Africa where virus is endemic. Historically, the virus spread in small villages in Africa by jumping from rodents that carry the virus to humans with very little transmission between people, Slifka said. However, the virus now appears to be spreading better between people, he said.

"Through intimate contact and skin-to-skin transmission, it's transmitting better than it has under other circumstances," Slifka said.

Most monkeypox patients in the U.S. travelled internationally in the 21 days before symptom onset which suggests they picked up the virus outside the country, according to McQuiston. The CDC doesn't believe monkeypox is spreading widely in the U.S right now but is closely monitoring the situation. The U.S. has conducted 120 tests so far for orthopoxvirus, the family that includes monkeypox.

"There could be community level transmission that is happening, and that's why we want to really increase our surveillance efforts," McQuiston told reporters during a call on Friday. "We want to really encourage physicians that if they see a rash and they're concerned it might be monkeypox to go ahead and test for that," she said.

WHO officials said on Wednesday that the sudden appearance of monkeypox in multiple countries in North America and Europe indicates that the virus has probably been spreading outside West and Central Africa undetected for some time, though it is unclear for how long. Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the WHO's technical lead for monkeypox, said the virus may be spreading more now because immunity in the human population has waned since smallpox vaccination was halted after the disease was eradicated.

Lewis said the WHO is not recommending mass vaccination against monkeypox because the current outbreak can still be contained. Most of the cases so far have been reported among men who have sex with men, developed symptoms and sought care at sexual health clinics, according to the WHO. Lewis said it is important to provide gay and bisexual men with the information they need to protect themselves from the virus and prevent it from spreading.

The CDC has told people with confirmed or suspected monkeypox infections to isolate at home until local or state health departments say otherwise. People with confirmed infections should remain in isolation until the skin lesions that characterize the disease have completely resolved, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed.

Monkeypox typically starts with symptoms similar to the flu including fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, exhaustion and swollen lymph nodes.Lesions then form on the body, and the virus spreads primarily through skin-to-skin contact with these lesions. Monkeypox can spread through respiratory droplets if a person has lesions in their throat or mouth, but it does not transmit easily this way.

People exposed to monkeypox should monitor for symptoms for 21 days, according to the CDC. They should check their temperature twice daily and monitor for chills, swollen lymph nodes and new skin rashes. If a fever or rash develops, the person should self isolate and contact the local health department immediately.

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The CDC is sending monkeypox vaccines to people at high risk in a race to prevent the spread - CNBC

Missing Sikeston teen may be heading to Kansas City area

14-year-old Aisha Grayson was last seen May 23.

Updated: 9:35 AM CDT Jun 4, 2022

The Sikeston Department of Public Safety is looking for missing 14-year-old Aisha Grayson.Officers say she was last seen on May 23. Grayson's mother, Shreenia Cummings, says she may be heading to the Kansas City area. Cummings says she is not sure if her daughter is in danger.Grayson is 5 feet 6 inches tall with red and black box braids, and she has eczema on her arms.Cummings says Grayson may be traveling with a young man who has a mustache, and they may be in a silver Kia Soul.If you have any information on Grayson's whereabouts, detectives ask that you call the Sikeston Department of Public Safety at 573-471-4711.

The Sikeston Department of Public Safety is looking for missing 14-year-old Aisha Grayson.

Officers say she was last seen on May 23. Grayson's mother, Shreenia Cummings, says she may be heading to the Kansas City area. Cummings says she is not sure if her daughter is in danger.

Grayson is 5 feet 6 inches tall with red and black box braids, and she has eczema on her arms.

Cummings says Grayson may be traveling with a young man who has a mustache, and they may be in a silver Kia Soul.

If you have any information on Grayson's whereabouts, detectives ask that you call the Sikeston Department of Public Safety at 573-471-4711.

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Missing Sikeston teen may be heading to Kansas City area - KMBC Kansas City