The ‘atlas’ of skin cells shows how psoriasis and eczema develop

The ‘atlas’ of skin cells shows how psoriasis and eczema develop

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The ‘atlas’ of skin cells clarifies how psoriasis and eczema develop and can lead to new treatments

  • The researchers created an ‘atlas’ looking at 50,000 different skin cells
  • Identified the cellular mechanisms that cause chronic skin diseases
  • Many found are the same as healthy cells and I hope that the database and the discovery will allow the development of future therapies

By PA Media and Joe Pinkstone For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

UK scientists have discovered how chronic skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema develop.

Researchers at Newcastle University have found that skin cells with eczema and psoriasis share many of the cellular mechanisms in developing healthy skin cells.

The team said the findings, published in the journal Science, may help in the development of new drugs against inflammatory skin diseases.

Newcastle University researchers found that skin cells with eczema and psoriasis share many of the cellular mechanisms in developing healthy skin cells

Newcastle University researchers found that skin cells with eczema and psoriasis share many of the cellular mechanisms in developing healthy skin cells

Psoriasis, which affects about 2% of people in the UK, is caused by an increase in the production of skin cells.

Although the process is not fully understood, the condition is believed to be related to a problem with the immune system.

Eczema, which causes itching, dryness and cracking of the skin, is more common in children, but can improve as they get older.

There is no cure for illness and treatments can only relieve symptoms.

The scientists created a detailed map of human skin as part of the Human Cell Atlas’ global effort to map all types of cells in the human body.

They observed how cells develop in healthy skin, as well as in the skin of patients with eczema and psoriasis.

Psoriasis, which affects about 2% of people in the UK, is caused by an increase in the production of skin cells. Although the process is not fully understood, the condition is believed to be related to a problem with the immune system

Psoriasis, which affects about 2% of people in the UK, is caused by an increase in the production of skin cells. Although the process is not fully understood, the condition is believed to be related to a problem with the immune system

Face masks may trigger ECZEMA crises in people with sensitive skin and allergies, study warns

People with sensitive skin may be at risk of eczema attacks triggered by the use of a face mask.

Doctors reveal that a 60-year-old man with a history of several skin allergies suffered an outbreak of dermatitis caused by his mask.

After initially struggling to diagnose the root of the problem, doctors realized that the cause was the elastics on his face mask.

The patient was diagnosed with a case of contact dermatitis, a form of eczema fueled by a reaction to a substance or material.

The American was medicated with prednisone, a common antiallergic, before the mask problem was detected.

But that was ineffective and the man later returned to the doctors with the problem.

After identifying that the location where the face was the same as the place where a mask is placed, doctors speculated that the form of PPE may be to blame.

Analysis of more than 500,000 skin cells revealed that the diseased cells shared many of the same molecular pathways as developing cells.

Professor Muzlifah Haniffa, senior co-author at Newcastle University and Associate Faculty at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: ‘This Atlas of Skin Cells reveals specific molecular signals sent by the developing healthy skin to summon immune cells and form a protective layer .

“We were surprised to see that the skin cells in eczema and psoriasis were sending the same molecular signals, which could over-activate immune cells and cause disease.

‘It has never been seen before. Discovering that developing cell pathways re-emerge is a huge leap in our understanding of inflammatory skin diseases and offers new routes for finding treatments.

The researchers said their study also opens up new avenues for researching other inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, and may have “major implications” for regenerative medicine, especially for burn victims.

Professor Fiona Watt, senior co-author at Kings College London, said: ‘There are decades of research on skin cells grown in the laboratory.

“However, it is not always clear how the properties of cells change in the laboratory environment.

“By revealing the detailed composition of cells immediately after isolation of developing and adult human skin, this skin cell Atlas can act as a model for researchers trying to reconstruct healthy skin in regenerative medicine.”

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