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Hypothesis: from epidermal barrier dysfunction to atopic disorders
Author(s) -
Taïeb Alain
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1999.tb06125.x
Subject(s) - atopy , atopic dermatitis , hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia , sensitization , medicine , ichthyosis , ichthyosis vulgaris , dermatology , immunology , skin barrier , filaggrin , allergy , ectodermal dysplasia
The rôle of a genetically‐impaired epidermal barrier as the primary cause of the rapid increase in prevalence of atopic dermatitis and respiratory atopy is proposed, based on available clinical and experimental data. The subsequently increased exposure to irritants and allergens postnatally in predisposed individuals would lead in a subset of these to a specific TH 2 cell activation favouring the development of IgE responses to atopens. Other routes of sensitization are probably important, but skin offers a good target to implement prevention strategies, so far completely ignored in the prophylactic recommendations given to high‐risk families. Candidate genes for skin‐barrier impairment are possibly those associated with ichthyosis vulgaris and X‐linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.