A Systematic Review of Probiotics for the Treatment of Eczema
The big idea:
Multiple intervention trials have been made to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of probiotics as treatment for eczema. However, results were mixed hence mostly inconclusive. Therefore this study carried out randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to further determine the efficacy of probiotics.
What the study asked:
The study aimed to investigate if probiotics are an effective treatment for eczema.
What the study did:
Researchers looked through major medical databases and sources such as clinical trial registers, conference papers and reference lists to find relevant studies.
There was a focus on high-quality trials where people were given live “good bacteria” (probiotics) by mouth to see if it could contribute to treating eczema.
A total of 12 studies involving 781 people were analysed.
What the study found:
Overall, probiotics did not significantly improve eczema symptoms or severity compared to a placebo. Even when looking at different groups (such as those with more severe eczema or allergies), no group showed clear benefits.
The results across studies were quite mixed, although a few studies using the same probiotic strain showed similar findings.
There were also rare but serious side effects reported, including infections and bowel issues.
What this means for eczema:
Although probiotics is typically a supplement linked to improving gut and hence skin health, this study indicated that there are no clear links between probiotics and eczema specifically.
This raises awareness amongst eczema patients to avoid relying on probiotics as primary means of treatment, but rather utilise probiotics as a supplement on top of daily healthy habits and prescribed medications.
Link to study:
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