A non-invasive test to predict eczema risk in infants

Last week the BBC reported on a simple 'sticky tape test' that can be used to predict eczema risk in infants. 1 in 5 children in the UK have eczema, which can have a negative impact on daily life.

The article - Baby sticky tape skin test can predict eczema risk - describes how sticky tape can be used to painlessly remove skin cells from infants, which can then be tested for immune biomarker changes. These biomarkers can predict not only risk but also severity of eczema, which means that early treatment can be commenced.

To learn about how debilitating eczema can be, I recommend this article - National eczema week: 'I wanted to rip my skin off' - which describes the experiences of 15 year old Anna.