Skin tape‐strips in old order Mennonite toddlers reveal upregulated barrier markers and low T‐helper inflammatory tone.

This article discusses a pilot study that examined the skin biomarkers of Old Order Mennonite (OOM) toddlers compared to toddlers from an urban population in Rochester (ROC). The study found that OOM toddlers had upregulated barrier and lipid metabolism markers, downregulated proinflammatory markers, and increased levels of select immune markers, suggesting that early farming lifestyle exposures may promote increased skin barrier functioning and decrease the likelihood of developing atopic dermatitis (AD). The study also found that OOM infants bathed less frequently than ROC infants, which may contribute to enhanced barrier defense and protection against the development of atopic conditions. However, the study has limitations, including a small sample size and a cross-sectional design. [Extracted from the article]