Researchers have found that exposure to wildfire smoke can worsen eczema, adding to growing evidence of how air pollution harms skin health.
In short:
- A study led by Dr. Raj Fadadu and Dr. Maria Wei revealed a link between wildfire smoke and eczema, a common skin condition.
- Even short-term exposure to polluted air can aggravate symptoms like itchiness and dryness in people with eczema.
- As wildfires increase due to climate change, these findings suggest worsening skin health impacts.
Key quote:
"I feel like as climate change has progressed throughout my youth and adulthood, I'm seeing how a lot of the damage is done to the environment or harming human health — and one of the ways that's happening is through the generation of air pollution."
— Raj Fadadu, dermatologist at the University of San Francisco
Why this matters:
As wildfires grow more frequent, more people may suffer from aggravated skin conditions like eczema. Understanding these effects could lead to better treatment and policy responses.
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