Skin bacteria put to the test: could common germ be causing your eczema flares?

This small study aimed to understand if and how the common skin bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (staph) triggers inflammation in people with eczema (atopic dermatitis). Researchers applied patches containing staph bacteria, its proteins, and a harmless skin bacteria to the skin of 7 people with moderate-to-severe eczema and healthy volunteers. They then measured the skin's immune response to see if staph directly causes the red, itchy flares characteristic of eczema.