Genetics food allergy

Allergic reactions to foods are an important medical problem throughout the industrialized world. The occurrence of food allergy appears to be strongly influenced by genetics, but the basis of the genetic predisposition to food allergy has not been differentiated from that for atopy in general.

In addition, genetic susceptibility alone does not explain the prevalence of food allergy satisfactorily, leaving ample room to consider the importance of environmental influences (external, maternal, and gastrointestinal environment) and interactions between the host and the environment.

Several features of food allergy are highlighted in this review:
1) patients with severe food allergies are overwhelmingly atopic, but food allergy occurs only in approximately 10% of patients with other atopic diseases;
2) most patients are clinically reactive to a single food, and although a substantial minority have multiple food allergies, the variety of bonefide food allergies in a given individual is limited;
3) foods contain multiple proteins whereas only a small subset are allergenic;
4) there is likely an important contribution of the environment, becoming manifest in genetically susceptible individuals.

source : http://www.springerlink.com.

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a term used for a group of skin conditions having several things in common: dryness, itching, inflammation and thickening of skin, and recurrence.

What Causes It?
Nobody knows exactly why some people are affected by these rashes and others with the same exposure aren’t.

Those with atopic dermatitis often have non-skin allergies (like hay fever and asthma) but their rashes aren’t caused by skin allergies.

On the other hand, those with contact dermatitis do have true skin allergies, but usually not other allergic problems like someone with atopic dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis occurs at all ages, whereas atopic dermatitis is most often a problem in kids. Hand dermatitis is caused by skin irritants such as detergents or chemicals.

Dry (chapped) skin occurs because of lack of water in the stratum corneum (see diagram).

If your skin surface doesn’t have enough oil, there’s more evaporation of water which contributes to the dryness.

Eczema health tips