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Tracking Skin Bacteria in People With Eczema, Psoriasis, or Healthy Skin

Follows skin bacteria over time in people with eczema or psoriasis, and healthy people.

Key facts

Who runs it
University of Rochester
Where
Rochester, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Skin Microbial Ecology in Atopic Dermatitis
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
240 people, planned
Started
17 Apr 2019
Expected to end
1 Apr 2027
Type of study
Observational, 3 groups
Treatments tested
  • AD subject visit sampling procedures
  • PS subject visit sampling procedures
  • Healthy control visit sampling procedures
Record updated
14 July 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for people with long-lasting atopic dermatitis or psoriasis who have active skin lesions, plus healthy control volunteers, to study skin bacteria over time.

Age
Aged 13 and older for atopic dermatitis; 13 to 65 years for psoriasis. The optional skin biopsy part is only for adults aged 18 to 65.
Sex
Men and women can join.
Disease stage
Atopic dermatitis or psoriasis present for at least 1 year, with active lesions on the arms, legs or trunk. Atopic dermatitis needs EASI of 12 or more; psoriasis needs PASI of 7 or more.
Earlier treatment
No systemic treatment (by mouth, vein or muscle) for a bacterial, fungal or viral infection within the last month.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Healthy control volunteers who have an inflammatory skin disease
  • Severe other illness the investigator thinks would affect taking part, such as HIV infection, autoimmune disease, severe heart failure or past cancer
  • Infection treated with systemic therapy in the last month
  • Unable to understand the study, give consent, or read, speak and understand English
  • Skin biopsy part only: past keloid formation or allergy to lidocaine

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 20 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • ≥13 to 65 years of age (inclusive) for PS, ≥13 for AD and NA, male or female
  • Optional Bx sub study - only adults (18-65 yrs; inclusive only)
  • Able to understand protocol and give consent
  • Able to keep clinic/study appointments and comply with study related procedures
  • Must be able to read, speak, and understand English
  • Chronic AD, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Consensus Criteria (Eichenfield 2014), that has been present for at least 1 year before the enrollment visit
  • Chronic PS, according to the AAD Consensus Criteria (Menter et al 2008 (section 1)), that has been present for at least 1 year before the enrollment visit
  • AD subjects: have active lesions on upper extremities, lower extremities, or trunk and a total disease severity of high moderate-to-severe (EASI ≥12)
  • PS subjects: have active lesions on upper extremities, lower extremities, or trunk and a total disease severity of high moderate-to-severe (PASI ≥7)

Who cannot take part

  • Severe concomitant illness(es) that, in the investigator's judgment, would adversely affect the individual's participation in the study (Ex: HIV infection, autoimmune disease, severe heart failure, Hx of malignancy (other than in situ cervical cancer or basosquamous skin cancer), etc.)
  • AD subjects: disease without upper extremity, lower extremity, or trunk lesions
  • AD subjects: total disease severity less than moderate (EASI <12), depending on enrollment
  • PS subjects: disease without upper extremity, lower extremity, or trunk lesions
  • PS subjects: total disease severity less than moderate (PASI <7), depending on enrollment
  • Control subjects: diagnosed with an inflammatory skin disease
  • Recent bacterial, fungal, or viral infection requiring systemic therapies (PO, IV or IM) within the last month
  • Subjects with a history of serious life-threatening reaction to tape or adhesives may be enrolled but cannot undergo Tape stripping procedure and will therefore only have a baseline TEWL measurement
  • (For Skin biopsy substudy only) - Subjects with history of keloid formation or allergy to lidocaine
  • <13 or > 65 years of age for PS, >13 for AD and NA
  • Unwilling and/or unable to complete informed consent process

Where in United States

  • University of Rochester Medical CenterRochester, United StatesContact: Lisa Beck, MDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Everybody's skin has bacteria that normally lives on it. Previous research has shown that people with eczema (or atopic dermatitis [AD]) have much higher concentrations of a certain bacteria (S. aureus), especially when their disease is active but little is known about the role that this bacteria plays in psoriasis (i.e. disease severity, biomarkers and skin barrier function). The overarching purpose of this longitudinal study is to understand how the abundance of skin S. aureus (and several commensal bacteria) change as a consequence of standard of care treatment in the URMC dermatology clinics. Other assays and biospecimens will also be collected to address a number of questions.

The 3 groups in the trial

  • Atopic Dermatitis

    Intervention is whatever Rx the URMC dermatologist thinks is best suited to the subject as part of "real-world" disease management in her clinic. 1\. Ages: 1. 13-65 yrs of age (inclusive), all genders, races and ethnicities 2. Additional 66+ yrs of age group, all genders, races and ethnicities

    Treatment: AD subject visit sampling procedures

  • Healthy control

    No intervention Ages: 1. 13-65 yrs of age (inclusive), all genders, races and ethnicities 2. Additional 66+ yrs of age group, all genders, races and ethnicities

    Treatment: Healthy control visit sampling procedures

  • Psoriasis

    Intervention is whatever Rx the URMC dermatologist thinks is best suited to the subject as part of "real-world" disease management in her clinic. Ages:13-65 yrs of age (inclusive), all genders, races and ethnicities.

    Treatment: PS subject visit sampling procedures

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Longitudinal "Real-World" Changes in Skin Microbial Ecology in Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and Psoriasis (PS) Patients
Plain-language title
Tracking Skin Bacteria in People With Eczema, Psoriasis, or Healthy SkinGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Record updated
14 July 2026