Live bacteria spray is showing promise in treating childhood eczema

Ian Myles, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Here’s a shorthand way to think of my research: Using bugs as drugs may one day bring hope to soaps.

Patients with atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema, suffer from dry, itchy skin and rashes, and have a higher risk of developing hay fever, asthma and food allergies. The cause of eczema is still unknown, but studies completed by my team and others continue to suggest that manipulating the skin microbiome – the community of all the bacteria and other microorganisms living on the surface of the skin – may offer therapeutic benefits to patients.

Vitamin C could help older adults retain muscle mass – new research

Ailsa Welch, University of East Anglia and Richard Hayhoe, University of East Anglia

As we get older, our skeletal muscle mass, strength and power to move gradually decline, which may lead to a condition called sarcopenia. Sarcopenia affects more than 50 million people over the age of 50 years worldwide, and contributes to type 2 diabetes, frailty, physical disability, loss of independence and poor quality of life. So it’s an important condition to prevent during ageing to minimise both personal and societal costs.