A patient with chronic eczema experiences increased Staphylococcus aureus skin infections. Which mechanism explains why this occurs due to impaired skin barrier function?

💡 Explanation

Eczema disrupts the skin barrier, leading to decreased production of antimicrobial peptides, which normally defend against bacteria like S. aureus. Because of this impaired defense, the risk of infection increases; therefore, the correct answer is disrupted peptide production, rather than altered lipid synthesis or filaggrin aggregation.

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