From the Guidelines
The current evidence suggests that probiotics may have a beneficial effect in reducing the risk of eczema, particularly when administered prenatally and postnatally, but the overall quality of evidence remains low and inconsistent, making them not currently recommended as a primary treatment. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, found that probiotics administered prenatally and postnatally could reduce the risk of atopy and food hypersensitivity in young children. Another study, 1, found that infants treated with probiotics had a significantly lower risk of eczema compared with controls. However, a study from 2007, 1, found that there was insufficient evidence to recommend the addition of probiotics to infant feeds for prevention of allergic disease or food hypersensitivity.
Some key points to consider when evaluating the evidence for using probiotics in treating eczema include:
- The potential benefits of probiotics in reducing the risk of eczema, particularly in children
- The importance of administering probiotics prenatally and postnatally to achieve the greatest benefit
- The lack of standardization in probiotic regimens for eczema treatment
- The need for further research to fully understand the effects of probiotics on eczema and to determine the optimal dosage and duration of treatment
In terms of specific probiotic strains, some studies suggest that certain strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Bifidobacterium lactis may provide modest benefits in reducing eczema severity and improving symptoms, particularly in children, as mentioned in 1. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal strain and dosage for eczema treatment.
Overall, while the evidence for using probiotics in treating eczema is promising, it is not yet strong enough to recommend probiotics as a primary treatment. Patients should prioritize conventional treatments like moisturizers, topical corticosteroids, and trigger avoidance while consulting healthcare providers before starting probiotics, especially for children or those with compromised immune systems. Probiotics might serve as a complementary approach but should not replace established eczema management strategies.
From the Research
Evidence for Probiotics in Treating Eczema
The use of probiotics in treating eczema has been studied in various clinical trials. Here are the key findings:
- Probiotics may have a small effect on reducing eczema symptoms, but the evidence is not strong enough to support their use as a treatment for eczema 2, 3, 4.
- Some studies have found that probiotics can slightly reduce investigator-rated eczema severity scores, but the effect is small and of uncertain clinical significance 2.
- There is no evidence to suggest that probiotics make a difference in the quality of life for patients with eczema 2, 3.
- Probiotics may be safe to use, but there is a small risk of adverse events, such as gastrointestinal symptoms 2, 4.
Specific Probiotic Strains
Different probiotic strains have been studied for their potential to treat eczema. For example:
- Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium lactis have been found to have no significant effect on eczema symptoms in infants 3.
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG has been found to reduce the incidence of atopic eczema in at-risk children during the first 2 years of life, and this effect may persist until 4 years of age 5.
Limitations and Future Directions
The current evidence for the use of probiotics in treating eczema is limited by:
- Significant heterogeneity between studies, which may be due to differences in probiotic strains, doses, and study populations 2, 4.
- Lack of standardization in the measurement of eczema symptoms and quality of life outcomes 2.
- Need for further studies to investigate the potential benefits and risks of probiotics in different populations, such as adults and children with atopic eczema 2, 6.