Study of Psychoneuroimmunology in Atopic Dermatitis

Psychoneuroimmunology is an inter disciplinary field that specifically examines the biochemical cross talk between brain, behavior and the immune system and between allergy immunology concept and psychosocial factors. The increase of allergic manifestation may be associated with environmental factors such as stress. A growing number of studies have suggested an altered hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis function to stress in allergy. It is speculated that a dysfunctional HPA axis in response to stress may facilitate and/or consolidate immunological aberrations and thus, may increase the risk for allergic sensitization and exacerbation especially under stressful conditions. It has been established via clinical and physiological means that psychological stress is a significant contributor to allergy course through its direct and indirect effects on immune response, cutaneous neuropeptide expression, and skin barrier function.