Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, skin tissue samples with matched frozen sera (serum), K2-EDTA plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) samples from unique atopic dermatitis (eczema) patients.
The sera (serum), K2-EDTA plasma and PBMCs are processed from atopic dermatitis patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Atopic Dermatitis Overview
Atopic dermatitis or eczema, is an inflammatory condition that causes itchy, rough, and cracked patches of skin. However, home remedies and medical treatment can help manage and prevent flares.
Eczema affects 31.6 million people in the United States, which is nearly 10% of the population.
What is Atopic Dermatitis (AD)?
Atopic dermatitis (AD) or eczema, is an inflammatory skin condition that may cause itchy, rough patches on a person’s skin.
Although, AD is most common in childhood. Approximately 1 in 4 children develop AD, with symptoms appearing by the age of 5 years. By adolescence, approximately 60% of people with AD will no longer show symptoms.
AD is commonly used to describe eczema because it is the most common type.
That said, there are other forms of the skin condition, including:
- Allergic contact dermatitis: This is a skin reaction that occurs following contact with a substance or allergen that the immune system recognizes as foreign.
- Dyshidrotic eczema: This refers to irritation of the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It is characterized by small blisters.
- Neurodermatitis: This leads to scaly patches of skin on the head, forearms, wrists, and lower legs. It occurs due to a localized itch, such as from an insect bite.
- Discoid eczema: Also known as nummular eczema, this type presents itself as circular patches of irritated skin that can be crusted, scaly, and itchy.
- Stasis dermatitis: This refers to skin irritation of the lower leg. It is usually related to circulatory problems.
Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis (AD)
Symptoms of AD vary by individual and may depend on a few factors, such as a person’s age, skin tone, and the condition’s severity.
Although, in most cases, AD symptoms are mild. However, symptoms may come and go and vary in severity.
While flare-ups refer to periods when symptoms worsen, while remissions are when symptoms improve or clear up.
The most common symptoms of AD include:
- Dry, scaly patches of skin
- Itching
- Open, crusted, or weeping sores
- Skin flushing
- Thickened, discolored skin
Because, the appearance of skin affected by AD will also depend on how much a person scratches their rashes.
For example, people with severe eczema may experience severe itching that could lead to continuous rubbing and scratching. Also, this may cause skin infections like infected eczema.
The location, type, and severity of rashes may also vary depending on a person’s age.
Adults
Adult patients may experience eczema rashes that could:
- Appear in the creases of the elbows, knees, or nape of the neck
- Be more scaly than those occurring in children
- Cover much of the body
- Be permanently itchy
Although, patients over 18 years old may also experience skin infections or very dry skin on the affected area.
Also, adults who developed AD as children but no longer experience the condition may still have:
- Dry or easily irritated skin
- Eczema on the eyelids
- Hand eczema
Childhood
Children from the ages of 2 to puberty may experience rashes that appear:
- Behind the creases of elbows or knees
- In the crease between the buttocks and legs
- On the neck, wrists, and ankles
They may also experience:
- Bumpy rashes
- Rashes that can become lighter or darker
- Skin thickening, also known as lichenification, which can then develop into a permanent itch
Also African American and Hispanic children may have more severe eczema.
Infants
Babies under the age of 2 may experience rashes:
- On the scalp and cheeks
- That bubble up before leaking fluid
- Which cause extreme itchiness, which may interfere with sleeping
| Age | Location | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 2 years) | • Scalp • Cheeks |
• Rashes may bubble up before leaking fluid • Extreme itchiness, which may interfere with sleeping |
| Children (2–puberty) | • Behind the creases of elbows or knees • Neck • Wrists • Ankles • Crease between the buttocks and legs |
• Bumpy rashes • The rashes may become lighter or darker • Skin thickening, also known as lichenification, which can then develop into a permanent itch |
| Adults (18+) | • Creases of the elbows, knees, or nape of the neck • Cover much of the body |
• More scaly rashes • Very dry skin on the affected areas • Permanently itchy rashes • Skin infections |
Skin Tones
An eczema rash may appear gray or brown in people with dark skin tones, which could make AD harder to see.
Patients with darker skin tones may get dark or light skin patches even after eczema symptoms go away.
Because these patches are known as hyperpigmentation, depigmentation, or hypopigmentation. However, they may last a long time.
Becasue, a dermatologist can look at these patches and develop a treatment plan, which may include steroid creams.
Causes of Atopic Dermatitis (AD)
Although, there is no known cause of eczema. However, health professionals believe that it may develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
In fact, children are more likely to develop eczema if a parent has it or another atopic condition, such as asthma and hay fever. However, If both parents have an atopic condition, the risk is even higher.
- Irritants: These include soaps, detergents, shampoos, disinfectants, and juices from fresh fruits, meats, and vegetables.
- Allergens: Dust mites, pets, pollens, and mold can all lead to eczema. This is known as allergic eczema.
- Microbes: These include bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, viruses, and certain fungi.
- Hot and cold temperatures: Very hot and very cold weather, high and low humidity, and perspiration from exercise can bring out eczema.
- Foods: Dairy products, eggs, nuts and seeds, soy products, and wheat can cause eczema flares.
- Stress: This is not a direct cause of eczema, but it can make the symptoms worse.
- Hormones: Females may experience increased eczema symptoms when their hormone levels are changing, such as during pregnancy and at certain points in the menstrual cycle.
Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis (AD)
Since there is currently no cure for AD. However, treatments aim to heal the affected skin and prevent symptom flare-ups.
In fact, a doctor will develop a treatment plan based on a person’s:
- Age
- Current health condition
- Symptoms
Although, for some people, eczema may go away over time. However, for others, it is a lifelong condition.
Medications
Several types of medications may help treat eczema symptoms.
- Topical corticosteroid creams and ointments: These anti-inflammatory medications are applied directly to the skin to help relieve the main symptoms of eczema, such as inflammation and itchiness. They are available as over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications, depending on the strength needed.
- Oral medications: A doctor may prescribe systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, which are available as injections or oral tablets. People should only use them for short periods of time. Also, it is important to note that the symptoms may worsen upon stopping these drugs if the person is not already taking another medication for the condition.
- Antibiotics: Doctors prescribe antibiotics if eczema occurs alongside a bacterial skin infection.
- Antihistamines: These can reduce the risk of nighttime scratching, as they tend to cause drowsiness.
- Topical calcineurin inhibitors: These medications suppress the immune system, which helps decrease inflammation and prevent flares.
- Barrier repair moisturizers: These reduce water loss and work to repair the skin.
- Phototherapy: This involves exposure to ultraviolet (UV) waves and may help treat moderate AD.
To treat moderate to severe eczema, a doctor may prescribe a combination of topical and systemic treatments, such as biologics.
Biologics block specific proteins in the immune system that trigger inflammation, which can help reduce eczema symptoms.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two biologics to treat eczema: dupilumab (Dupixent) and tralokinumab-ldrm (Adbry). However, they may cause side effects, which are usually mild and manageable.
Topical JAK inhibitors and topical PDE4 inhibitors have also both been approved by the FDA to help treat AD.
Even after an area of skin has healed, it is important to keep looking after it, as it may easily become irritated again.
Home Care
Some home remedies may help people with eczema support their skin health and alleviate symptoms, including:
- Avoiding rapid changes in temperature and activities that cause sweating
- Applying moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing to “lock in” moisture
- Avoiding rough, scratchy fibers and tight-fitting clothing
- Using a mild soap or a non soap cleanser when washing
- Taking extra precautions to prevent AD flares in winter
- Air drying or gently patting the skin dry with a towel, rather than rubbing the skin after bathing or taking a shower
- Learning and avoiding individual eczema triggers
- Moisturizing every day
- Keeping fingernails short to prevent scratching from breaking the skin
- Taking lukewarm baths
- Using a humidifier in dry or cold weather
- wearing cotton and soft fabrics
People can also try various natural remedies for AD, including aloe vera, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar.
Summary
In conclusion, AD is an inflammatory skin condition that is more cost common in children, although adults may still develop it.
The most common type is called atopic dermatitis (AD), which may cause discomfort and vary in severity. It can present differently depending on a person’s age. In people with darker skin tones, the symptoms may be harder to see.
Although there is currently no cure, people can treat and prevent eczema flares using home remedies, moisturizers, medications, and lifestyle changes.
Biospecimens
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.
Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own bio-repository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.
In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.
Our human tissue collections, specimens, and bio-fluids come with detailed patient clinical data associated with them.
So this critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.
Additionally, new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases are identified by researchers using patient’s data which is extremely valuable.
Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.
For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.
Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.
Types of Biospecimens
Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:
- Peripheral whole-blood
- Amniotic fluid
- Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
- Sputum
- Pleural effusion
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Serum (sera)
- Plasma
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
- Saliva
- Buffy coat
- Urine
- Stool samples
- Aqueous humor
- Vitreous humor
- Kidney stones (renal calculi)
- Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.
Moreover, we can also procure most human bio-specimens, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.
In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols; you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.
Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.
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