April 13 (iVillage Total Health) -- British researchers have discovered similarities in the genetic profiles of people with severe eczema that may one day lead to better treatment of the skin disorder.

Researchers from the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing at the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom found that people of the same ethnic groups have similar mutations in the filaggrin gene -- believed responsible for the many of the symptoms of eczema and involved in about half the most severe cases. People with the condition have itchy, noncontagious inflammation of the skin.

In most cases, eczema begins as intense itching, followed by a patchy rash that is red, inflamed, dry and scaly. The rash most often affects the face, arms and legs as well as the creases of the hands and feet. The condition is often hereditary and may be found in other family members. People who have severe eczema often also have hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or asthma, or have family members who do.

The British researchers identified 15 different mutations in the gene and noted that people with one mutation had a 60 percent chance of have eczema and people with two mutations had nearly a 100 percent chance of having the condition.

They also noted that eczema patients of European descent from the United Kingdom and Ireland typically had five mutations, those of Asian descent had two mutations. Researchers used this data to estimate that perhaps 4 percent of the Asian population and 9 percent of the Irish and British population may carry the gene defects.

"Once we cracked this exceptionally difficult gene, we were surprised to learn how many different defects in filaggrin were waiting to be discovered, not only in European people, but other populations worldwide," Irwin McLean, the lead researcher, said in a press release. "This is the most exciting and fast-moving project we have been involved in and the lab is buzzing with excitement."

The report was published online April 8 on Nature Genetics.

Copyright 2007 iVillage Total Health.