Pollution in Bengaluru giving rise to skin ailments

Bengaluru: With increasing pollution in Bengaluru, doctors are witnessing a sharp rise in skin diseases, especially in children. Dermatologists are receiving cases of Psoriasis which is papules and scales on skin and atopic dermatitis which is a kind of eczema which is a condition that makes the skin red and itchy, among school-going children.

“The city’s weather aggravates such a condition among school-going children,” says Dr Leelavathy, Head of Department at Bowring Medical College who sees around 8-10 cases of infective eczema among school-going children. “I witness around 8-10 cases of eczema which is very common among the school-going children,” adds Dr Leelavathy.

Skin disorders are among the most common diseases in school children in both developing and industrialised countries and the number is only increasing, doctors claim. A recent study published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics on skin disorders among children attending a Medical College and Hospital in Bengaluru found that bacterial infections and scabies still remained the most common pediatric dermatoses followed by molluscum contagiosum and atopic dermatitis. Childhood psoriasis contributed to major part of the study among papulosquamous disorders.

“Eczema is very common among the school-going kids in Bengaluru which is also the allergy capital of the country. Out of some twenty cases some six cases are of eczema,” says Dr Pranjal Shamsher mutli-therapy skin consultant at Dr Health.

Dr Pranjal also adds that psoriasis is another ailment affecting children across Bengaluru. “I see more than 15-20 patients a day and shockingly it is a very common condition among school-going children. It is more common than acne,” adds Dr Pranjal.

Speaking about the causes, experts believe that the weather, the temperature and also pollutants and pollens have a major role to play in the aggravation. “For both Eczema and Psoriasis summer is favourable. Also the city’s pollution can aggravate such conditions,” informs Dr Leelavathy.

“The major reasons which aggravate these conditions are the weather, the bore well water that they use and also the Parthenium pollen which grows widely across the city,” adds Dr Pranjal.