Increased Air Pollution Linked to AD and Chronic Inflammatory Skin Diseases

According to a study published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, particulate matter (PM) is associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic inflammatory skin diseases in South Korea.

Researchers aimed to investigate the associations between PM and AD and other dermatoses using monthly disease statistics from seven South Korea cities. A total of 23,288,000 people from Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data were included. Monthly visits of AD were estimated with respect to outdoor air pollutants and daily air pollution levels (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, O₃, NO₂, SO₂, and CO).

Increases in air pollution levels were associated with increases in monthly patient visits of AD. Every 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, 1 ppb increase in SO₂, and 100 ppb increased in CO significantly increased the amount of patient visits for AD. O₃ and NO₂ levels were not associated. Increases in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were also associated with increases in patient visits for psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and rosacea.

“Our data suggest PM is associated with [AD] and chronic inflammatory skin diseases,” concluded the study authors.

Reference

Park TH, Park S, Cho MK, Kim S. Associations of particulate matter with atopic dermatitis and chronic inflammatory skin diseases in South Korea. Clin Exp Dermatol. Published online August 24, 2021. doi:10.1111/ced.14910