Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a highly prevalent condition. Recent evidence suggests a link between the altered gut microbiome and the development of AD. Probiotics and/or prebiotics have been used in the treatment and prevention of AD with the intention of correcting the aberrant gut microbiome. As of now, data from meta-analyses show some promise in the use of probiotics for the prevention of AD with the effect being seen only when administered both prenatally and postnatally. Prebiotics and synbiotics have less compelling evidence to support their effectiveness in AD prevention or treatment, mainly due to the discrepancies of results. Explanations for the variations in the results may come from environmental factors, probiotic/prebiotic factors, and host factors that affect efficacy of the probiotic/prebiotic. More studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of action of probiotics/prebiotics and also to identify their true benefits in the prevention and treatment of AD.