People suffering from eczema might have lower risk of developing skin cancer, new study suggests.
The study, conducted by King's College London, researchers found that the severe immune response triggered by eczema lowers cancer risk by causing the body to shed potential cancerous cells.
Eczema is a term used for several kinds of skin swelling. The condition, also called dermatitis, isn't dangerous. Symptoms of the disease include red, itchy and swollen skin. Previous research has shown that the condition persists into adulthood, making patients more prone to psychological distress.
"I hope our study provides some small consolation to eczema sufferers - that this uncomfortable skin condition may actually be beneficial in some circumstances," Fiona Watt, Director of the Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, said in a news release.
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the U.S. Around two million cases of the non-melanoma cancer will be diagnosed in 2014, according to the National Cancer Institute.
For the study, researchers compared the effects of two cancer-causing chemicals in normal mice and genetically altered mice.
The altered mice lacked three skin proteins and displayed symptoms of eczema, The Telegraph reported.
Researchers found that the number of tumors in transgenic mice was six times lower than in normal mice. The study results show that mice with eczema have lower risk of developing skin cancer.
According to the researchers, both normal and mutated mice had similar risk of acquiring cancer-causing mutations. However, an overactive immune system in "knock-out mice" led to increased loss of cancerous skin cells.
"We are excited by our findings as they establish a clear link between cancer susceptibility and an allergic skin condition in our experimental model. They also support the view that modifying the body's immune system is an important strategy in treating cancer," Watt said.
The study is published in the journal eLife.