Came across this 2015 research study on Environment Tobacco Smoke Exposure Affect Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Modified By TNF-α and TLR4 Polymorphisms in which the researchers studied:
- 3,639 children aged 7 and 8 years old
- Survey format – 2-year follow-up
- Participants were followed up 2 years later with blood test
Results were that children with the gene variant (that encode immune proteins TNF-alpha and TLR-4) associated with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and Crohn’s disease were more likely to develop eczema if they had been exposed to smoke in the womb. Since we wouldn’t know whether there’s gene variant in a fetus, it’s best to quit smoking and have everyone around to quit if you’re planning to have a baby. More studies on Pubmed linking second-hand smoke and eczema:
Cigarette smoking on allergic conditions – Maternal smoking in the first year of the child’s life resulted in the children having an increased chance of wheezing, exercise-induced wheezing and asthma.
Foetal exposure to maternal passive smoking is associated with childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema – Foetal exposure to maternal passive smoking was significantly associated with wheezing, allergic rhinitis and eczema.
Improvement of Atopic Dermatitis Severity after Reducing Indoor Air Pollutants – After the completion of the program that reduced the air pollutants in kindergarten, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and the mean eczema area and severity index (EASI) were decreased, and the changes were both statistically significant.
Pre- and postnatal exposure to parental smoking and allergic disease through adolescence – Exposure to second hand smoke during infancy was associated with an overall elevated risk of asthma, rhinitis and eczema up to 16 years.
Updated in October 2015, new study on:
Parental smoking and development of allergic sensitization from birth to adolescence -Second hand tobacco smoke exposure in infancy appears to increase the risk of sensitization to food allergens up to age 16 years as well as eczema in combination with sensitization.
It is likely that not only tobacco smoke but also outdoor air pollutants like traffic exhaust can stimulate immune cells to respond. What is your experience? I was living in a scaffolded apartment for the first two trimesters – till today, I still wonder what the effect had been on my baby…