Prevention of food allergy – skin barrier interventions

• Published in: Allergology international Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 3 - 10
• Main Authors: Kelleher, Maeve M., Tran, Lien, Boyle, Robert J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01-01-2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Atopic dermatitis; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Food allergy; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Prevention; Skin - immunology; Skin barrier; Prevention; Food allergy; Infant; Skin barrier; Atopic dermatitis
• ISSN: 1323-8930; 1440-1592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2019.10.005

The relationship between infant skin health and food allergy pathogenesis is the focus of intense research activity, on the basis that interventions to improve infant skin health may potentially lead to the prevention of food allergy. Current evidence does not provide conclusive findings on the mechanisms of food allergy development but does support the possibility that food allergy develops through transcutaneous sensitisation to allergenic peptides. In this article, we review the evidence for this model of food allergy development, assess strategies currently being tested for prevention of food allergy through cutaneous interventions, and identify key knowledge gaps which might be explored in future work.