Childhood Adversity and Pediatric Skin Disease: Investigating the Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Socioeconomics
University of Colorado
University of California, San Francisco
Overview:
Traumatic events that happen in childhood can have long-term effects on health and well-being into adulthood. These events, together called adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), include abuse, neglect, or exposure to household dysfunction. Previous research has linked ACEs to many health conditions, but little is known about their role in autoimmune skin diseases—disorders where the body mistakenly attacks the skin. Additionally, the relationship between economic status and pediatric skin conditions is not well understood. This study looks at two key questions to better understand how early life hardships contribute to pediatric skin disease: (1) Do young adults who had alopecia areata (a type of autoimmune hair loss) as children have higher rates of ACEs? (2) How does economic status relate to different pediatric skin diseases? By studying both adversity and poverty, this research aims to clarify their distinct connections to childhood skin disease, informing future prevention and care strategies.
Status:
This was funded through a 2025 PeDRA Research Fellowship Grant.