The Impact of Air Pollution on Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) remains a dermatological disease that imposes a significant burden on society. Air pollution has previously been linked to both the onset and severity of atopic dermatitis. As air pollution remains a critical environmental factor impacting human health, this review seeks to provide an overview of the relationship between different air pollutants and AD.

AD can develop from multiple causes that can be broadly grouped into epidermal barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation. Air pollution imposes significant health risks and includes a wide variety of pollutant types. AD has been linked to outdoor air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOC), gaseous compounds, and heavy metals. Exposure to indoor pollutants such as tobacco smoke and fungal molds has also been associated with an increased incidence of AD. While different pollutants impact distinct molecular pathways in the cell, they mostly converge on ROS product, DNA damage, and dysregulated T-cell activity and cytokine production. The presented review suggests a strengthening tie between air pollution and AD. It points to opportunities for further studies to clarify, as well as potential therapeutic opportunities that leverage the mechanistic relationships between air pollution and AD.