Inside-Out

Orally administered probiotics have been employed for the prevention and therapy of atopic dermatitis in recent years, because both theoretical considerations and animal models suggested positive effects were likely. Current clinical studies make it clear that oral probiotics are not indicated for the therapy of mild, moderate or severe atopic dermatitis. A prevention study from Finland described a marked positive effect of lactobacilli on the rate of atopic dermatitis when the bacteria were given orally to the pregnant mother and the newborn. However, these positive results could not be reproduced by other investigators. Until these varying results are explained, no recommendation can be made for use of oral probiotics to prevent atopic dermatitis, as is stated in the current German S3 guideline on the prevention of allergies.