Having a dog at home could help to prevent eczema in children who are genetically prone to the condition, a study suggests.
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, researchers say.
The findings provide new insights into what could cause eczema in children and how environmental factors may influence genetic risk, experts say.
The study did not look at the effect of dog exposure in the treatment of existing eczema, and experts caution that introducing a dog may make symptoms worse in some children.
Eczema is an itchy skin disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental effects, but little is known about how the two interact.
The international study team, led by…