Written By: IJCP Editorial Team

Published On: 21 Aug, 2025 4:25 PM | Updated On: 22 Aug, 2025 11:06 PM

Atopic Dermatitis in Childhood and Pubertal Development: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD, also known as atopic eczema or eczema) may influence the timing of puberty through complex immunological and hormonal interactions, potentially delaying pubertal development. Altered pubertal timing is associated with adverse overall and reproductive health outcomes in adulthood.

AD is a chronic inflammatory skin disease and one of the most prevalent conditions in childhood and adolescence, affecting 15–20% of children and 2–10% of adults. It is frequently associated with asthma, hay fever, and food allergies. Previous studies have linked asthma and other chronic inflammatory diseases in childhood to delayed physical and pubertal development.

To date, only one study has directly investigated AD in relation to puberty, but it was limited to girls and reported combined estimates for AD, asthma, and allergies, suggesting earlier pubertal onset. Most research has focused on childhood growth parameters such as height, with inconsistent findings. These studies indicate that growth impairments in children with AD may be transient, raising the hypothesis that delayed onset of the adolescent growth spurt could contribute to altered pubertal timing.

Several mechanisms may underlie a potential delay in puberty among children with AD. Compromised skin barrier function can increase the absorption of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and allergens. Sleep disturbances may disrupt hormonal regulation, and dietary restrictions due to food allergies, chronic treatment (e.g., topical glucocorticoids), or an overactive immune system may also play a role.

In this nationwide cohort study, we investigated the association between childhood AD and pubertal development, hypothesizing that AD is linked to later onset of puberty.