Taking Probiotics for Eczema: Does It Really Work?

Eczema is a skin condition characterised by intense itchiness and inflammation. There are numerous interventions, including unconventional ones, but not much has proven to be the golden method for eczema management. While many still struggle to find the perfect way for their eczema management, through this article, I will shed some light on how probiotics may help.

This article is contributed by health coach Water Lam.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live bacteria or yeast when taken enough can confer health benefits to the body. Ingesting probiotics could restore the imbalance and increase the diversity of intestinal microflora, which are the bacteria that has been living with us since birth. Research has shown that eczema patients have a different composition of intestinal microflora than those without eczema. Multiple research has identified that the Bifidobacteria species, one of the common bacteria hosting in our intestines, is found to be less prevalent in the faeces of infants with eczema. The low diversity of microflora is also associated with the development of eczema during the early years of life. With that being said, if we can restore our microflora to a “healthy” condition, it may help reduce the severity and relapse of eczema.

Current Evidence

Although research on microflora has been going on for the last 20 years, still there isn’t any major consensus as to how to alter microflora in order to confer health benefits. Research results are conflicting. A 2018 study showed probiotics reduced eczema symptoms to a certain extent but had a limited effect on reducing the quality of life for eczema patients. Some other studies focused on one particular strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and proved it to be of little effect in reducing risks of eczema. However, a 2015 study showed a significant improvement in infants’ eczema when probiotics are used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and infancy.

Although results are controversial, there are many reasons to explain the inconsistencies:

1. There is not any standardization in dosage and frequency of probiotics supplementation.
2. The probiotic strains used in the research are different.
3. The research methods and outcomes are not standardized.

Nevertheless, researchers have not given up on the idea of using probiotics to treat eczema. It is becoming clearer now that our intestinal microflora does contribute to regulating immunity and inflammation, and it will only be a matter of time until we find the correct probiotic strain and dosage. Personally, I still encourage eczema patients to try probiotics as a supplementation to their eczema diet.

What are the benefits?

Intestinal microflora in the early years of life can influence our whole life. It helps our immune system mature. Greater diversity in the microflora is believed to reduce the risks of allergic diseases and eczema. They are also capable of producing essential vitamins – K, B2, B7 & B12 with the help of fermenting prebiotics, which acts as the “fuels” for our microflora. Microflora could also produce short-chain fatty acids, important substances to help maintain blood glucose and appetite, which are important to prevent diabetes. It was also proven in some studies that probiotics could reduce depression and anxiety, which may trigger eczema. Lastly, probiotics were also proven to be effective in preventing bacteria-induced diarrhoea in adults and children.

What kind of probiotics should we take?

There are two ways to obtain probiotics for our body.

The first way is to ingest them from natural foods.

Probiotics are usually found in fermented foods, and one of the most common fermented foods is yoghurt. Yoghurt usually provides at least one type of the following probiotic – Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus. Interestingly, ingesting more than one strain (multi-strain) of bacteria from foods is not guaranteed to exert a greater effect than ingesting only one strain. Since there is no single best probiotic for eczema, it is more of a trial and error for each eczema patient to find the one that helps.

Apart from being probiotics, yoghurt is also regarded as one serving of milk and alternative in the food pyramid. These dairy products are useful to provide important nutrients like calcium and vitamin B12. Other popular natural probiotics including kimchi, cheese also contain different probiotics and nutrients.

Please bear in mind these beneficial bacteria may die during the cooking process. It is better to consume directly. However, if you are undergoing a food elimination diet, i.e. reducing chemical loads by excluding some of the food groups – dairy foods in the diet, you may have to search for alternative products.

‍Another way of obtaining probiotics is through supplements.

There are different commercial probiotics available on the market. They are advertised to relieve common health problems, such as constipation, diarrhoea and hypercholesterolemia (too much blood cholesterol). Some are advertised to improve infants’ immunity and prevent infants from developing eczema and asthma. Usually, there is research to support the bacterial strain the commercial products use (you may want to check it in the product information). However, it is NOT guaranteed that everyone has the same beneficial effect.

Dosage and Frequency

Research has not indicated the best dosage and frequency of consuming probiotics. If you choose to try probiotic supplements, take them according to the products’ instructions. If you choose the natural way, there is no definite method, but you can try eating every day for at least 2 weeks. Probiotics are not drugs or antibiotics that may exert an immediate effect on the intestinal microflora. It takes time to shape the microflora.

Adverse Effects

Most probiotic supplements are designed for the general healthy population. Lactobacillus found in fermented food is considered safe for the body. For patients with immunosuppressive conditions, however, they should seek medical advice first before consuming any probiotic foods as their microflora is more vulnerable than others.

To understand the gut-skin connection better, learn more about the leaky gut here!

References

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