Can Probiotics Make Eczema Worse Or Cure it?

Eczema or dermatitis is an irritating skin condition that affects 223 million people around the globe.

Unfortunately, you cannot completely get off with this condition but only tame the symptoms and avoid allergens to prevent the condition.

And the good news is probiotics do not act as Eczema allergens and might help prevent flare-ups.

Research indicates various effects of probiotics in preventing and reducing skin inflammation.

Read complete details about these effects below in the article. I have also shared what different people with Eczema experienced after using probiotic supplements and foods.

Key Points:

• Probiotics don’t worsen Eczema, but they can help you get away with the symptoms sooner.
• Research shows probiotics have great potential to eliminate Eczema flare-ups. However, more investigation is needed to clarify the mechanism.
• Various users report probiotic benefits for Eczema.

Probiotics And Eczema – What Does The Research Say?

Looking into research catalogs to find out the correlation between Probiotics and Eczema, I found that probiotics aren’t bad for skin allergies like atopic dermatitis and other eczema types.

Instead, they can help in reducing the severity owing to the following properties:

Probiotics Restrict Allergens

Eczema symptoms show up when allergens contact the skin receptors either by penetrating through the outer layer of the skin or absorbing into the blood from the gut.

Probiotics strengthen both the intestinal and skin barriers, limiting exposure to allergens in both cases.

A review from Pharmaceutical Biotechnology shows that topical probiotics improve the skin’s functionality by preventing harmful compounds and bacteria from entering the body.

Also, the topical application of probiotics reduces the severity of atopic dermatitis. The anti-inflammatory secretions of the probiotics probably contribute to this effect.

Similarly, a 2022 research on the causes and treatment of Eczema shows that probiotics heal up the intestinal barrier. In this research, 3 bacterial strains, Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium longum, were most effective.

Combined, they improved intestinal barrier functions by 48%. Resultantly, the diffusion of allergens, toxins, and pathogens from the GI tract to the blood was significantly reduced.

Probiotics Increase Skin Ceramide Levels

Ceramides are natural fatty acids on the skin, playing an important role in skin health.

They:

• Prevent dehydration of the skin
• Keep the skin barrier intact
• Protect against allergens and pollution
• Have anti-aging effects as well

Studies show that probiotics can also increase skin ceramide levels.

According to a dermatology clinical trial, Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria effectively increases ceramide amounts in the skin when applied externally on the skin for 2 weeks.

This trial was performed on 11 patients, and all experienced a significant reduction in itching, redness, and scaling.

Probiotic Secretions Can Reduce Inflammation

Another way probiotics can help with Eczema is by producing anti-inflammatory compounds that effectively reduce itchiness and redness.

Due to these inflammation-reducing effects, probiotics are effective in many inflammatory skin diseases like Eczema, Acne, Rosacea, and Psoriasis.

This effect is especially beneficial when you apply probiotics as topical creams.

Because the bacteria directly reach over the inflamed tissues, and their anti-inflammatory secretions are all used to cure the symptoms.

Similar effects are expected with oral supplements and fermented probiotic-rich foods, but the results may be slower as the strains need time to absorb into the blood and reach the skin’s surface.

Oral probiotics, however, seem more effective for preventing inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory effects are more evident from Lactobacillus strains as their secretions are as strong as to neutralize the effects of genes triggering Eczema reactions.

Probiotics Fight Pathogens

Probiotics can also improve skin conditions by fighting disease-causing bacteria.

For example, the infection-causing bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, over-populate the skin microbiome during an eczema flare-up.

Its secretions further contribute to the inflammation, making Eczema even worse.

In this regard, research shows that soil-based bacteria, especially Bacillus subtilis, can effectively destroy the body’s 95% of S. aureus colonies.

As a result, the severity of inflammation and Eczema symptoms is also reduced.

Probiotics Boost Immunity

Probiotics can also reduce Eczema episodes by making you less prone to allergic reactions.

A strong immune system that acts correctly is the best way to prevent Eczema. Dermatitis symptoms show up when your immune system generates inflammatory responses on exposure to allergens.

But probiotic bacteria can modulate the immune system to tackle allergens through non-inflammatory mechanisms and detoxification.

Probiotic secretions also help the immune system detoxify harmful compounds and kill pathogenic microbes.

This Italian study in molecular sciences infers that probiotics strengthen non-inflammatory responses throughout the body and can prevent the development of an allergy.

These and a bunch of other studies show that probiotics can be used in the treatment of Eczema and similar skin conditions. However, the exact underlying mechanisms of these effects are not yet completely understood.

Can Probiotics Cause Eczema Flare-ups?

Though the clear mechanism of action is unknown yet it’s clear that probiotics aren’t bad for skin diseases.

Clinical observation proves that probiotics have no adverse effects on the skin and do not worsen a prevalent skin issue like Eczema.

To clarify the correlation between probiotics and Eczema, research is still ongoing. However, their efficacy in taming down the itch, redness, and skin flakes is proven by user feedback. Some of the examples quoted below;

Probiotics Cured My Eczema – Reddits Users

I have seen people say the exact words, here are a few similar stories from Reddit that confirm the curing effects of Probiotics for Eczema.

Yog12 posted his story about getting rid of Eczema in his Reddit post. The eczema on his hand was so bad that even steroid ointments were not helping.

But the itch was gone when he added yogurt and a probiotic supplement to his diet, and his skin looked clear and healthier within just 2 weeks.

Plus, the people who commented also shared similar positive results with probiotics.

Whitmanpatroclus said in his comment that he started taking probiotic-rich foods for IBS but got the bonus of reduced Eczema inflammation and itchiness.

Another wrote that he suffered severe seborrheic dermatitis (Eczema on the head, neck, and arms). It was so severe that 95% of his head was covered with flakes, making his scalp really rough.

However, yogurt and Culturelle probiotics cleared it up within 10 days. Also, he noticed that his hands were now less dried and itchy.

Probiotics Benefits for Eczema

1. Prevents Allergen Exposure

Probiotics protect you against harmful compounds and pathogenic bacteria triggering the Eczema symptoms.

Friendly bacteria heal up an intestinal barrier and prevent the entry of food allergens and pathogens entering the blood (ultimately taking them to the skin).

Similarly, probiotics improve the skin barrier and ceramide bindings to keep the invaders from reaching skin receptors and stimulating Eczema reactions.

2. Kills pathogens

Besides preventing the entry of pathogens and irritating compounds, probiotics can also fight germs and detoxify the harmful compounds in the skin microbiome.

Above mentioned studies show that taking probiotic supplements kills harmful bacteria on the skin, reducing Eczema symptoms and improving skin health.

3. Reduces Inflammation

As discussed above, probiotics secrete anti-inflammatory compounds.

These secretions soothe the skin and reduce redness and itching.

With consistent application, the anti-inflammatory effects are as effective as to vanish the Eczema symptoms completely.

Research and user feedback show that at least 2 weeks of supplementation is required to decrease inflammatory symptoms significantly.

4. Lowers Stress Levels

When you are predisposed to Eczema, stress is a major trigger leading to flare-ups.

Friendly bacteria increase serotonin, the happy hormone, from gut walls. Resultantly, you become calmer and can handle life stresses in a better way.

This way, probiotics help you live a happier and Eczema-free life.

5. Increases Immunity against Allergens

Besides directly affecting the skin tissues, probiotic bacteria help prevent Eczema flare-ups by making you more immune against allergens.

Probiotic bacteria boost immunity by activating specialized immune receptors.

These activated receptors make your immune system more effective and fast.

Also, they regulate the immune system to cause non-inflammatory responses so that itch and redness don’t bother you even when you are exposed to some allergens.

Best Probiotics For Eczema

• Culturelle Kids Probiotic + Multivitamin Chewables – Best Probiotic For Eczema Baby- This chewable probiotic supplement has Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and 11 vitamins to support a kid’s immune system.
  
• Neogen Dermalogy Probiotics Youth Repair Cream – Best Topical Probiotics For Eczema – It has Lactobacillus, Bifidium, and Streptococcus thermophiles strains to support the skin microbiome.
  
• HomeBiotic – Best Probiotics Spray For Your Home – This anti-allergen spray contains soil-based probiotics. It helps keep the environment inside your house free from harmful bacteria, molds, and dust allergens, keeping your family safe from Eczema outbreaks.