We all know that spending time in nature is good for our health and wellbeing, but what about children? A new Finnish study has examined the relationship between greenness around the home in early childhood and the risk of developing atopic eczema, a common allergic skin condition in children.
The results of the study may surprise you. According to the study, greenness around the home in early childhood does not seem to protect children from atopic eczema. Instead, the proximity of coniferous, mixed forests, and agricultural areas was associated with an elevated risk of eczema. The effect was seen especially in children who were born in the spring.
This finding is surprising, as we often think of nature as being beneficial for our health. However, the study’s lead researcher, MD Minna Lukkarinen, a paediatric specialist from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study at the University of Turku, Finland, explains that “General greenness around the home did not protect children against eczema, which was contrary to our expectations and to the hypothesized allergy protective effect of nature contacts. Eczema is, however, only one of the allergic diseases in children, albeit the first to emerge.”
While this may be disappointing news for parents who live near forests or agricultural areas, it’s important to remember that this is just one study, and more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between nature and childhood allergies. It’s also worth noting that the study focused on atopic eczema, and not on other allergic diseases in children.
So, what can we take away from this study? First, it highlights the importance of continuing to research the relationship between nature and health. Second, it’s a reminder that we need to take a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. While spending time in nature is undoubtedly beneficial for many aspects of our health, it’s not a panacea. As always, it’s important to seek medical advice if you or your child are experiencing any health concerns.
In conclusion, while the Finnish study may have challenged some of our assumptions about the relationship between nature and childhood allergies, it also highlights the ongoing importance of research in this area.