A revolutionary skin patch called Viaskin Peanut could free thousnads of sufferers from peanut allergy. The skin-on patch is packed with minute traces of peanut protein that may beat lethal peanut alltergies. The patch developed by French firm DBV Technologies, is worn on the arm or the back which allows small amounts of proteins to gradually seep through the epidermis.
About one in fifty kids in the UK suffer from peanut allergy. It often starts when children are very young and mostly first allergic reactions take place when a kid ages between fourteen months and two years. Baby boys are thirty percent more prone to suffer peanut allergy compared to baby girls.
And children from comparatively affluent homes face twice the risk of suffering peanut allergy than to their poorer counterparts. Viaskin Peanut allergy patch works as the condensation chamber allows the release of soluble proteins and enables hyper-hydration of the skin making it easier for the proteins to enter the skin.
Then, it comes into contact with immune system cells which would normally trigger a life-threatening overreaction. But, the proteins are in such tiny quantities that the immune cells slowly get used to their presence, learning to recognise peanuts so that they are no longer a threat. As a result, the defense systems of the body stop overreacting when they come into contact with peanuts.
Viaskin Peanut ensures adequate amounts of the allergen are delivered to the immune competent cells in the epidermis (top layers of the skin) without breaking the blood-skin barrier, in this manner dramatically reducing the risk of anaphylactic shock. There are no treatments available on the market for this life-threatening disease. Viaskin Peanut brings real hope for millions of patients.
Researchers hope it will also help those with known peanut allergies whose lives are put at risk through accidentally coming into contact with tiny amounts of the harmful protein.