Tobacco Smoke Exposure Unlikely to Worsen Atopic Dermatitis in Youth

Despite concerns about tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) exacerbating atopic dermatitis (AD) due to its effects on immune function, a long-term study, published in the Journal of Allery and Clinical Immunology, suggests no clear association between smoke exposure and AD activity or severity in youth. The findings come from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, which tracked 10,521 individuals from birth through adolescence.

Researchers analyzed passive TSE in childhood, active smoking during adolescence, and serum cotinine levels at 3 time points to assess any connection with AD. After adjusting for confounding factors, neither passive TSE in childhood (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.83-1.07) nor active smoking in adolescence (aOR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44-0.75) increased AD activity. Secondary analyses revealed no dose-response relationship or cumulative effect of TSE on AD severity or risk.

“Neither active nor passive TSE was associated with AD during childhood and adolescence,” the researchers concluded. These results provide robust evidence that tobacco smoke exposure does not significantly impact AD activity or severity during childhood and adolescence.

Reference

Al-Alusi NA, Ramirez FD, Chan LN, et al. Atopic dermatitis and tobacco smoke exposure during childhood and adolescence. J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2024;4(1):100345. doi:10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100345