Wildfire smoke is now linked to worsening eczema symptoms

Researchers have found that exposure to wildfire smoke can worsen eczema, adding to growing evidence of how air pollution harms skin health.

Hannah Chinn reports for NPR.

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.

Related EHN coverage:

• LISTEN: Carlos Gould on wildfire smoke and our health
• How toxic wildfire smoke affects pregnant people
• Op-ed: Ripe for disaster declarations — heat, wildfire smoke and death data