Actively Recruiting
Studies of Skin Microbes in Healthy People and in People With Skin Conditions
Led by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) · Updated on 2026-04-07
530
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This study will examine microbes (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses) that live on human skin and how microbes contribute to health and disease. It will analyze healthy human skin and how the these microorganisms might change in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), a skin condition also known as eczema. Healthy volunteers, as well as patients with moderate to severe eczema (AD), between 2 and 40 years of age may be eligible for this study. We also wish to enroll children and adults aged 2-40 who have been diagnosed with inherited immune disorders known as HIES (hyperimmunoglobulin-E syndrome), WAS (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome), or DOCK8 immunodeficiency because they frequently have skin problems similar to AD. Eligible participants undergo the following tests and procedures: * Medical family and medication history * Skin examination * Blood tests (research blood as well as serum IgE, and complete blood count) * Skin samples to analyze microbes. Samples are obtained by the following methods: swabbing the skin with a cotton swab; scraping (scratching) the skin gently with a blade to remove only the outermost skin layers; and, only in adults, biopsy (surgical removal) of a small skin sample less than 1/4-inch (5 mm) in diameter. * Nose swabs to analyze microbes. * Patients with eczema may have photographs of their skin taken to help monitor the skin rashes. Participants may be contacted periodically for follow-up studies. Patients with atopic dermatitis may have additional skin samples collected to examine changes in the skin bacteria over time and during all of the stages of eczema. In addition, patients who have a flare of their eczema are asked to undergo a skin sample collection as soon as possible.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Studies of Skin Microbes in Healthy People and in People With Skin Conditions
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Must have a primary care professional who will continue standard care and communication during the study.
- Adults aged 18 to 50 years for healthy volunteer group.
- Confirmed diagnosis of atopic dermatitis with moderate to severe symptoms and at least one affected antecubital or popliteal fossa for AD patients.
- Healthy pediatric controls aged 2 to 18 years.
- Mutation-proven diagnosis of HIES, WAS, or DOCK8 immunodeficiency, with or without eczema.
You will not qualify if you...
- Recent or planned use (within 7 days or 5 half-lives) of IND agents, ultraviolet light therapy, monoclonal antibodies, or systemic immunosuppressants.
- Current or recent (within 6 months) cancer treatment with chemotherapy or radiation.
- History of bone marrow transplant or gene therapy.
- For AD patients: inability to stop systemic antibiotics or steroids 7 days before sampling, or inability to stop topical steroids or calcineurin inhibitors for 7 days on sampling sites.
- Underlying immunodeficiency for AD and healthy groups.
- For HIES/WAS/DOCK8 patients: inability to stop topical steroids and emollients for at least 24 hours before sampling.
- For healthy volunteers and pediatric controls: unstable or chronic medical conditions requiring treatment or hospitalization.
- Other chronic skin diseases like psoriasis that affect microbiome evaluation.
- Employment in or residence at healthcare or similar facilities with frequent exposure to lab animals.
- Asthma diagnosis.
- Females with symptoms or hormone levels indicating perimenopause.
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
H
Heidi H Kong, M.D.
CONTACT
J
Julie A Segre, Ph.D.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
6
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