Colorado researchers have found a way to predict whether a baby will develop a food allergy, a discovery that could offer new treatments to prevent allergies as babies grow up.
About 8-10% of people suffer from food allergies. If a parent has a food allergy, there is a high chance that their child will also have a food allergy. An early sign that a child may develop an allergy is the presence of eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. Eczema is a condition that causes dry, itchy skin.
In a study published in March 2024 and led by Dr. Donald Leung of National Jewish Health, doctors used special tape to take skin samples from infants as young as two months old.
Here are five lessons learned from the study:
Dr. Leong’s thoughts on skin tape testing:
“We took skin samples, skin tapes, from kittens as young as two months old, which is usually four months or even longer before they develop food allergies, and then we followed up to see which kittens developed food allergies and which didn’t.”
What researchers have discovered about infants’ susceptibility to food allergies:
“We now know that before food allergies occur, there are abnormalities in lipids, skin, certain proteins and immune cytokines (proteins that control inflammation in the body). So we’re excited because we might be able to predict who will develop food allergies and target them.”
On putting protective creams on the hands and face to prevent foods from being absorbed into your allergy-prone baby’s “leaky” skin:
“Skin predictive testing can help us identify the 8 to 10 percent of people who will develop food allergies and tell caregivers that this is something they really need to be aware of. Previous studies have shown that these creams are much more effective when introduced early and used regularly.”
It may seem counterintuitive, but Dr. Leon says food allergies can be prevented in very young babies if they ingest certain foods rather than put them on their skin.
“In the first few months of life, babies don’t have any teeth and it’s hard for them to chew, but now there are companies that make foods that can be mixed in a blender and are easy for babies to eat. But there are also companies that are very concerned about food allergies and are trying to make toothpastes, paste-like foods or even things that can be licked.”
Common foods that cause food allergies:
“In the US, peanuts are the most common, with eggs and milk also very common. More and more people are allergic to tree nuts such as cashews and sesame, but depending on your immune system, you could be allergic to almost anything.”
Editor’s note: National Jewish Health supports CPR News but has no influence on editorial content or decisions.
