Another Reason to Take Probiotics; Improvement of Eczema Symptoms!

Good news for eczema sufferers! In a recent study, children with eczema have shown clinical improvements from exposure to probiotics. Probiotics are a healthy form of live bacteria and yeasts that are known to be good for health, particularly for the digestive system. Though previously people had thought of bacteria as something that causes diseases, for generations many cultures have understood that yogurts, kefirs, sauerkrauts, kimchi and other fermented foods have health benefits. The body is full of bacteria, both good and bad, and it’s beneficial to maximize the amount of "good" or "helpful" bacteria to help keep the gut healthy.

And now, there’s yet another reason to take probiotics. While the recent studies of probiotics in the treatment of eczema have not been clearly established and there is need for further clinical trials, there are signs of real promise. The effects of probiotics Lactobacillus paracasei (LP) and Lactobacillus fermentum (LF) are continuing to be tested to determine improvements on the severity of reactions, and any immune biomarkers of children who suffer from atopic dermatitis or eczema. There are hopes that the probiotics will show improvements in the quality of life for children as well as adults.

The studies have worked as follows. Children who received probiotics showed lower SCORAD scores than the children tested in a placebo group. The difference in the scores continued, even 4 months after discontinuing use of the probiotics.
With so many other good reasons to take probiotics, even without the recent news of the effect on eczema, why not give it a try?

Your local health food store can recommend a probiotic for you or your child. Or talk to your doctor for a recommendations. Adding yogurt or kefir to smoothies is also a great way to add a probiotic to your diet. Check out recipes on-line for smoothies, oatmeal, granola and fruit with yogurt or kefir.

If you or your child has been on antibiotics, taking a probiotic for at least a month can really help your gut replace the beneficial bacteria. Doctors are learning that to effectively treat eczema, we can't ignore the body as a whole and gut health does affect the skin.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25600169

http://www.pubfacts.com/detail/25600169/Children-with-atopic-dermatitis-show-clinical-improvement-after-Lactobacillus-exposure