2019 Volume 33 Issue 1 Pages 35-40
Since dual allergen exposure hypothesis was proposed, percutaneous sensitization has attracted attention as a principal mechanism involved in the development of food allergy. Several clinical trials have been conducted to prevent food allergy by improving skin barrier function with moisturizers. However, even if suppressing the onset of atopic dermatitis, their preventive effects on the development of food allergy have not been proven. Because not all patients with food allergies have history of atopic dermatitis or impaired skin barrier function, other routes instead of skin may play a role in establishing antigen-sensitization. In pollen-food allergy syndrome, sensitization to pollen antigens, which exhibit cross reactivity with food antigens presumably occurs through respiratory tracts. Therefore, it is difficult to completely prevent the development of food allergy by intervention focusing on percutaneous sensitization. To prevent food allergies, it is necessary to clarify the factors which affect percutaneous sensitization, and the mechanism involved in oral and/or respiratory sensitization.
