Eczema Treatment with Probiotics During Pregnancy

by | Feb 12, 2015 | Health Conditions, Probiotic Blog, Probiotics for Infants and Children

Eczema is one of the most common skin diseases in the world. The number of people affected by this disease is growing because of our increased exposure to chemical substances and pollutants. Eczema is a constant inflammation that manifests in recurring dryness and skin rashes. The severity of symptoms varies between patients, ranging from simple itchiness to bleeding.

Eczema can occur in many different types of people including pregnant women. Women that are breastfeeding their babies should be cautious as well. It is possible that this condition can transfer to their children. Infants and toddlers suffering from eczema can lose about one or two hours of sleep every night from the itching caused by eczema.

The good news is that eczema is preventable and treatable.

One easy method of prevention is using probiotic supplements.

Probiotics are bacteria that are beneficial for the body. There are more than 400 different strains of probiotics identified so far. Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilius are two probiotic strains recognized to be most effective in treating cases of eczema.

Probiotic strains are natural in the human body. They are also found in certain foods and in the form of dietary supplements. The use of probiotic supplements has proven to prevent people from immune dysfunction. It has also been shown to reduce inflammation. These are the two main factors that lead to eczema development.

There is an increased interest for scientists to do more research in the field of probiotic supplementation to treat eczema. Research has determined that probiotic products show positive effects in the prevention and treatment of eczema.  This is especially true in preventing atopic dermatitis. This type of eczema is quite common among pregnant women and infants. The results from this study are based on 13 published clinical trials of probiotics and eczema. These trials have determined that a probiotic, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, is helpful in preventing eczema. This probiotic made a massive improvement during infancy as well as later periods of life.

Eczema is most common in babies and infants. Their immune system is not fully developed which makes them more prone to the disorder. An article published in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that the use of certain probiotics during pregnancy can help the prevention of eczema. Their study included children between the ages of 2 and 7. The creators of this study concluded that a strain of Lactobacillus bacteria provides protection against eczema.

If you or your child, suffers from eczema, try different probiotic supplements to help fight this debilitating disease. In the comments, let us know of your experiences with eczema and probiotics! Let’s put a stop to this debilitating disease!


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About the Author

Dr. Shawn Benzinger, D.C., DABCO, FIAMA

Co-Founder, CEO | Dr. Benzinger is a certified Chiropractic Orthopedist, Acupuncturist, and Nutritionist with a passion to help people live healthier, self-sufficient lives. He has served as a national spokesperson and talk show host on areas relating to nutrition, chronic pain, and alternative health care for over 20 years. Dr. Benzinger regularly consults on musculo-skeletal and nutritional management for elite athletes across the country, and he has been working to help educate the Indianapolis community on nutrition and chronic pain for the last 36 years.