The Effect of House Dust Sensitization on Skin Sebum and Moisture in Children with Allergic Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the levels of skin moisture and sebum in children with a house dust allergy without skin symptoms. This was a case–control study involving children, aged 0–18 years, who were being followed up for an allergic airway disease in a pediatric allergy clinic. Age, gender, hemogram parameters, and IgE values were evaluated. The skin moisture and sebum percentages of the patients and control group were measured by a non-invasive bioimpedance method using a portable digital skin moisture and sebum measurement device on the cubital fossa. The median value of the skin moisture percentage in the house dust mite allergy-positive patient group was significantly lower than that in the house dust mite allergy-negative patients and the control group (p < 0.001). The house dust mite allergy-positive patient group had the lowest skin sebum content. However, there was no statistical significance among the groups in terms of skin sebum percentage (p = 0.102). In the study, children with a house dust allergy were found to have lower levels of skin moisture and sebum. The regular use of moisturizers for children with a house dust allergy should be kept in mind as an effective solution to protect the skin barrier and reduce skin symptoms.