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South China Morning Post

How a pet dog could prevent eczema in children genetically at risk of the condition

Having a pet dog at home could potentially help prevent eczema in children who are genetically predisposed to the condition, according to a new study. Advertisement Academics said that having a pet dog in 'early life' could have a 'protective effect'. But they stressed that the study did not look at the effect dog exposure could have on existing eczema, and cautioned that introducing a dog could make symptoms worse among some children. Atopic eczema is a common skin condition that causes itchy skin. Children with a change in their DNA that increases their chance of developing eczema were less likely to have the condition if they were exposed to a dog in early life. Photo: Shutterstock Researchers said that the condition is caused by a combination of both genetic and environmental factors , but little is known about how the two interact.