Using a combination of sequencing techniques, researchers from NIAMS and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) surveyed the skin microbiome of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD, also called eczema) to understand the genetic diversity of the bacteria present on the skin and how genetic variants may contribute to disease severity.

Researchers at the NIH and their colleagues have identified genomic variants that cause a rare and severe inflammatory skin disorder, known as disabling pansclerotic morphea, and have found a potential treatment.

New techniques are enabling scientists to understand where certain cells are with respect to one another and how changes in their activity may affect your overall health. In one recent example of the power of this approach, NIH-funded researchers used a sophisticated method to map immune cells within human skin to get a more detailed picture of psoriasis.