Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder marked by itching, redness, and barrier dysfunction, affecting a large global population. Current treatments, such as topical corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, provide temporary relief but carry risks with long-term use. This study investigated fish collagen (FC) as a potential alternative therapy. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that FC has anti-inflammatory and skin barrier-restorative properties, regulating pathways like IκB, MAPKs, and STATs. FC alleviated symptoms such as epidermal hyperplasia, mast cell infiltration, and transepidermal water loss in a mouse AD model, indicating its potential as a safe and effective treatment.

The research also demonstrated FC’s ability to restore filaggrin expression, essential for skin barrier integrity, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Both oral and topical FC applications were effective, with the combined approach showing the greatest results. These findings highlight FC’s promise as a cosmeceutical and therapeutic agent for AD, supporting further studies into its pharmacokinetics and advanced formulations. Future research should focus on optimizing FC delivery systems to enhance its therapeutic potential in AD management.

Reference: Kim HM, Jin BR, Lee JS, Jo EH, Park MC, An HJ. Anti-atopic dermatitis effect of fish collagen on house dust mite-induced mice and HaCaT keratinocytes. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):14888. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-41831-w.