Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting up to 30% of people in the US. But, [s]Medical News Today[/s] reports, having eczema may not be all that bad; it could reduce the risk of skin cancer. Researchers say that eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, activates an immune response that sheds potentially cancerous cells from the skin, preventing tumour formation. Commenting on the study results, Professor Fiona Watt of [b]King’s College[/b] says: ‘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.’
[link url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/276444.php]Full Medical News Today report[/link]
[link url=http://elifesciences.org/content/3/e01888]eLife abstract[/link]