A link between eczema and skin bacteria has been found which could lead to new treatments for the condition which effects one in every five adults in the UK.

The new study carried out at the University of Michigan Medical School in the US and published in the medical journal Nature, found that eczema suffers have higher concentrations of the common bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (commonly known as staph), which lives both inside the body and on the skin, on their skin than non-eczema sufferers.

[quote]However more interestingly they found that a particular toxin produced by the staph bacteria causes immune-system cells in the skin to react in a way that produces eczema rashes in people who are predisposed to eczema.[/quote]

The molecule in the staph toxin, called delta toxin, caused immune-related mast cells in the skin to release tiny granules that cause inflammation and itching in the skin.

Previous research has found that eczema suffers taking antibiotics, which deplete the staph virus, experienced less eczema symptoms while taking the antibiotics.

However the researchers concluded that despite this finding, long term or regular use of antibiotics to control eczema is not a suitable treatment plan as taking too many antibiotics can end up with strains of the staph bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

[quote]Researchers said that the challenge now was to focus on treatments that reduce the amount of staph bacteria on the skin but that do not lead to resistant bacteria.[/quote]

One treatment that studies have shown can help reduce the amount of staph bacteria on the skin is the use of topical creams containing silver.

One such treatment is Silver Serum from Skin Shop that contains a patented form of silver called MicroSilver ™ that specifically seeks out and kills staph and other bad skin bacteria while leaving good skin bacteria in tact.

[quote]In studies MicroSilver ™ was found to reduce inflammation and infection in eczema lesions by as much as 70% in some patients after a two-week trial period.[/quote]

The problem with both antibiotic and steroid treatments for eczema is that they kill ALL bacteria, both bad and good. So yes they stop the itching and redness, but afterwards they leave the skin even drier and flakier, so it’s a vicious cycle.

Skin needs good skin bacteria to stay healthy and strong.  This is particularly important for skin prone to eczema as the skin protection barrier is already weak and so bad bacteria can enter the infected area of skin easily.

Silver Serum is also designed to remain active on the skin for several hours after application, so keeping eczema lesions guarded against becoming populated with staph and other bad skin bacteria.