- Reduces eczema risk by ~20% when taken during pregnancy
- Most effective for allergic eczema and food sensitization
- Particularly helpful for infants with family history of allergies
- Generally considered safe during pregnancy and infancy
- Effects may vary based on probiotic strain and genetics
How well does Probiotics work?
Probiotics is above average for atopic dermatitis "Supplements and Natural Remedies" treatments.
What is the evidence behind Probiotics?
Probiotics appear to be effective in reducing the severity of atopic dermatitis symptoms, with multiple studies showing significant improvements in SCORAD scores (a measure of eczema severity) compared to placebo
What does the research say?
| Study Summary | Study Type | Studied Population | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
📄
A probiotic mixture helped improve eczema symptoms in children and teenagers after 12 weeks of treatment. Patients taking probiotics needed less topical steroids between weeks 6-12 of treatment compared to those taking placebo.
|
Randomized Controlled Trial |
Total Patients: 61
Severity: not available Age: 4-17 years
|
Patients taking probiotics had significantly better SCORAD scores compared to placebo |
|
📄
The probiotic LGG helped improve eczema symptoms in young children when taken daily for 12 weeks. Children who took the probiotic needed less rescue medication and had better quality of life. The benefits were linked to positive changes in both gut and skin bacteria.
|
Randomized Controlled Trial |
Total Patients: 100
Severity: not available Age: 6-36 months
|
Significant improvement in eczema severity that was maintained after treatment |
|
📄
An 8-week treatment with probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics improved eczema symptoms in children. The severity of eczema decreased significantly, with the percentage of children having moderate-severe disease dropping from 92.4% to 28.1%.
|
Observational Study |
Total Patients: 320
|
Significant improvement in eczema severity |
Study Summary
A probiotic mixture helped improve eczema symptoms in children and teenagers after 12 weeks of treatment. Patients taking probiotics needed less topical steroids between weeks 6-12 of treatment compared to those taking placebo.
Randomised double blind placebo controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a mixture of probiotic strains on symptom severity and the use of corticosteroids in children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis.Study Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 61
Severity: not available
Age: 4-17 years
Results
Patients taking probiotics had significantly better SCORAD scores compared to placebo
Study Summary
The probiotic LGG helped improve eczema symptoms in young children when taken daily for 12 weeks. Children who took the probiotic needed less rescue medication and had better quality of life. The benefits were linked to positive changes in both gut and skin bacteria.
Therapeutic effects elicited by the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG in children with atopic dermatitis. The results of the ProPAD trialStudy Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 100
Severity: not available
Age: 6-36 months
Results
Significant improvement in eczema severity that was maintained after treatment
Study Summary
An 8-week treatment with probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics improved eczema symptoms in children. The severity of eczema decreased significantly, with the percentage of children having moderate-severe disease dropping from 92.4% to 28.1%.
Effect of synbiotic supplementation on children with atopic dermatitis: an observational prospective studyStudy Type
Observational Study
Studied Population
Total Patients: 320
Results
Significant improvement in eczema severity
What are other patients saying?
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Everything changed when I started treating it as staph and encouraging good bacteria.
Aug. 2, 2023Very tired parents here. We were at our wits ends with our 9 month old. Doctors were useless “lol he’ll grow out of it, moisturize and use these steroids for now.” Rebounds after steroids made it worse than before. We were lucky to sleep for 2 hrs each for almost a month straight. I spent a whole weekend on PubMed doing research. Turns out people with eczema are colonized by staphylococcus aureus instead of good bacteria. We started treating the baby for staph and taking steps to encourage other bacterias to take hold, including applying topical probiotics. There’s been a few successful trials using strains of bacteria to treat AD, and we had nothing to lose. We got a 98% reduction in symptoms within a week. I’ll make a detailed post sooner or later, but a shift in treatment philosophy might be useful for some of you guys. Edit: Wow so much positive response! I’m getting a lot of questions from people asking for brief outlines of what I did, so hopefully this tides you over: 1. Look up MRSA decolonization procedures and follow them. Get yourself some Hibiclens (chlorhexidine soap) and a topical mupirocin prescription. Don’t use the mupirocin for more than 10 days. Be aware that staph can build resistance to chlorhexidine. Bleach baths can be effective/soothing but do not actually kill bacteria (concentrations are far too low). The exact mechanism behind bleach baths are still unknown. Edit: I found a cool study that actually showed that bleach baths over the long term (a month and longer) actually led to changes in the skin’s microbiome composition. Less staph and more good guys! 2. Get a good oral probiotic and some topical probiotic sprays (several available on Amazon). Bacillus subtilis and coagulans help kill/inhibit staph. Others help outcompete the staph. We rotate several to maintain a diversity of species. Streptococcus thermophilus, lactobacillus johnsonii, vitreoscilla filiformis, and bifidobacteriums are what you should be looking for to help outcompete staph and help your skin with ceramide production and healing. There has been a very interesting study on roseomonas mucosa but it doesn’t seem to be commonly available. Just because a bacteria hasn’t been studied doesn’t mean you should stay away, just that we simply don’t know. These will not live on skin permanently and fix you long term. Frequent reapplication is needed. If you cannot access probiotic sprays, get probiotic capsules with high CFUs (less filler, more active spores) and mix them with hydrogel (currently using McKesson) and apply that topically. Hydrogels seem to be one of the most effective spore carriers that helps the spores to adhere and germinate. Hydrogel also moisturizes. If you need more info on specific probiotics, I answered that somewhere in the comments. Short answer: Garden of Life Skin+ is good but also has lycopene that turns it red. If the red is a problem, you can buy the bacteria strains I listed individually and blend them together. When I go this route, I just open the capsules and pour out like a quarter of each of them into a few mL’s of hydrogel, mix it up, and apply. 3. Use prebiotics (microbial foods for good bacteria) like GladSkin (arginine is a prodrug for urea; has protein complex that feeds bacteria) and MiteBGone (contains sulfur. It stinks, but it feeds good bacteria and staph doesn’t like it; also contains tea tree oil which is known to inhibit staph). Smart lotion contains both sulfur and hydrocortisone, but we prefer to apply topical steroids infrequently and separately. Daily hydrocortisone use can thin the skin and has other drawbacks you can look up. 4. Moisturize. Our go to is EpiCeram (prescription only in US; contains lipids the skin needs to repair itself). 5. Other stuff: Amerigel Hydrogel contains oak tannins that fight staph and is an astringent that helps weeping wounds heal and is a great moisturizer. Aloe and coconut are also nice moisturizers that staph does not like. Edit: As time goes on, the more impressed I am with this Amerigel. It’s being used in long term wound care to prevent staph/MRSA because it doesn’t seem to create resistance. And I’m talking pretty gnarly wounds, like diabetic ulcers on feet. Don’t just take my word for it! Start googling or searching PubMed for “topical probiotics atopic dermatitis” and the stuff I’ve mentioned. Unfortunately, this is a shotgun approach by a desperate dad, and not a scientific approach. I can’t tell you which of these treatments are the most important/effective. But it’s a shotgun approach that at least has some evidence behind it. Look for scientific journal articles and reviews. Any other sources like health/beauty sites and mommy blogs should be taken with a grain of salt and further investigated through PubMed. The science is out there! Eczema is crazy complex, poorly understood, and can have many causes. Just because this worked for us doesn’t mean it will work for you. My infant has had zero negat
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Finally found the solution to my eczema!!!
Jan. 6, 2025After three tough years of dealing with relentless itching, thickened skin, pigmentation issues, and many sleepless nights, I’ve finally made some progress with my skin. Over the years, I tried lotions, ointments, supplements, different diets, even an allergy test—but nothing worked the way I hoped. I eventually went to a dermatologist and got prescribed a bunch of steroid creams. They gave me some short-term relief, but the inflammation and flaky skin kept coming back even worse, especially the TSW on my forehead. It was beyond frustrating. At my lowest point, I started seeing a lot of pro-gut health videos pop up on my social media. With nothing to lose, I decided to give it a try. **I completely cut out processed foods, sugary snacks, and gluten, and swapped them for probiotic-rich foods like kefir, chia seeds, peanuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, and sauerkraut.** And wow—this changed everything. Even though I thought I had a decent diet (I always tried to hit my vitamin and mineral goals), I guess my gut just needed more good bacteria. My skin finally started healing, and now I can eat pretty much what I want as long as I don’t go overboard and keep taking care of my gut. I strongly encourage anyone dealing with skin problems to focus on taking care of their gut. There’s no doubt in my mind that gut health and skin are closely connected. You’ve got nothing to lose by trying some of the gut-friendly foods I mentioned—you might just find the relief you’ve been looking for! TL;DR: FIX YOUR GUT!!!
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Probiotics/Yogurt helps me
Oct. 14, 2018Hey guys, I found that eating yogurt works for me to help reduce my eczema. I've tried elimination diet and didn't work. (Dairy, gluten, nightshades). Even went keto. (Worked for losing fat but eczema still persisted.) I have the type of eczema that also has another symptom of acid reflux. If this sounds familiar to your case, try eating yogurt. I think it's due to probiotics. I eat chobani in case you're curious of the bacteria strain. Prebiotics should also help too. Probiotics- good bacteria Prebiotics- food for good bacteria Now I don't pay much mind to what I eat anymore cause it doesn't effect my eczema as long as I eat yogurt. Granted, I should start eating healthier just for overall health but that is another topic. But the eczema on my inner elbow arm now just looks very mild and if you saw it you'd probably guess I just have dry skin rather than it being eczema. It doesn't look angry and red anymore. (It used to be so bad I ended up resorting to steroids sometimes). I also used to have some patches on my face: near eyes, cheek, mouth. They have completely cleared. I also have eczema behind both knees and they are in the process of clearing up as well, they also just look like small patches of dry skin now. My acid reflux is gone too. Also I like to note that I tried probiotic pills in the past but it didn't do anything. The reason for this is either 1. Since it was the cheapest probiotic pills in walmart, it probably was poor quality in terms of more dead bacteria; or 2. The certain strains the pills had were different from the yogurt ones. I don't have the pills anymore so I can't check.
Probiotics may help reduce the need for topical corticosteroids in treating atopic dermatitis, potentially allowing for less steroid use
What does the research say?
| Study Summary | Study Type | Studied Population | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
📄
A probiotic mixture helped improve eczema symptoms in children and teenagers after 12 weeks of treatment. Patients taking probiotics needed less topical steroids between weeks 6-12 of treatment compared to those taking placebo.
|
Randomized Controlled Trial |
Total Patients: 61
Severity: not available Age: 4-17 years
|
Patients taking probiotics had significantly better SCORAD scores compared to placebo |
|
📄
A mixture of probiotics taken by mouth significantly improved eczema symptoms in children with moderate atopic dermatitis. Children taking probiotics needed less topical steroids to manage their condition, with an 83% improvement in symptoms compared to 24% in the placebo group.
|
Randomized Controlled Trial |
Total Patients: 50
Severity: moderate Age: 4-17 years
|
Probiotics led to a significantly greater improvement in eczema severity compared to placebo |
Study Summary
A probiotic mixture helped improve eczema symptoms in children and teenagers after 12 weeks of treatment. Patients taking probiotics needed less topical steroids between weeks 6-12 of treatment compared to those taking placebo.
Randomised double blind placebo controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a mixture of probiotic strains on symptom severity and the use of corticosteroids in children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis.Study Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 61
Severity: not available
Age: 4-17 years
Results
Patients taking probiotics had significantly better SCORAD scores compared to placebo
Study Summary
A mixture of probiotics taken by mouth significantly improved eczema symptoms in children with moderate atopic dermatitis. Children taking probiotics needed less topical steroids to manage their condition, with an 83% improvement in symptoms compared to 24% in the placebo group.
Effect of Oral Administration of a Mixture of Probiotic Strains on SCORAD Index and Use of Topical Steroids in Young Patients With Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical TrialStudy Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 50
Severity: moderate
Age: 4-17 years
Results
Probiotics led to a significantly greater improvement in eczema severity compared to placebo
What are other patients saying?
-
Probiotic / Prebiotic Saved Me
March 13, 2024Before and after pictures: https://ibb.co/X7X60G4 https://ibb.co/X4jfktv https://ibb.co/6vJX9Zv I suffered from eczema when I was younger. I was prescribed all the usual steroid creams which I ended up stopping altogether as I was terrified of TSW. My eczema gradually went away as I reached my teens and I would only get the odd flare up here and there which I managed without steroids. Out of nowhere last year I suddenly developed horrendous eczema all over my face (which I never had when I was younger) and hand. I tried EVERYTHING to get rid of it, none of which worked: Diet - cut out gluten and dairy Dust mites - changed all my bedding to dust mite proof, regularly washed bedding, hoovered and cleaned regularly Cold showers Diluted apple cider vinegar - topical and orally Every non steroidal eczema cream I could find Castor oil topically I eventually went to the doctor who, no surprise, prescribed me with hydrocortisone for my face and mometasone for my hand. The steroid cream cleared my eczema up on my face but within a day of stopping it would come back with a vengeance. The steroid had no effect on my hand. I was refused protopic when I asked for it and was at a loss. I decided to try pro/pre biotic as a last ditch effort to heal myself. Miraculously within a week my facial eczema was completely gone and my hand was healing for the first time! I bought 77 billion CFU Bio Cultures Complex which mainly contains Lactobacillus Reuteri, Rhamnosus and Acidophilus, though there are 20 strains in total. It killed my stomach for the first 4 days, giving me unbelievable pain. I continue to take it daily and still can’t believe this is all it took. I don’t know if my dose is excessive but I feel so much better taking it. I now use nothing on my face whatsoever. I’ve read of people not having luck with probiotic but I urge you to try a high dose (60 billion+ CFU). I hope this helps someone!!
-
Whoever said to take 60 Billion Probiotic in a comment somewhere: bless you my friend
April 26, 2023I had been dealing with a HORRIBLE facial flare and like while I still have the usual eczema everywhere else, my face has cleared up so much. Gut health really does matter my dudes, I’m in awe at how much that probiotic did cause it was the one major change I made that noticeably helped.
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Probiotics
Feb. 27, 2020They seem to be helping. I haven't had my monthly flare up. My skin is itchy from time to time. I have severe full body eczema. I've had it for 21 years and I'm on allergen specific immunotherapy for 1 year now. Every month I get this huge whole body flare but I've been on probiotics for about 30 days and nothing. Rn idk if it's the immunotherapy finally working or the probiotics. Your take?
Probiotics appear to be safe with very few reported side effects. Most studies reported similar adverse event rates between probiotic and placebo groups
What does the research say?
| Study Summary | Study Type | Studied Population | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
📄
The probiotic LGG helped improve eczema symptoms in young children when taken daily for 12 weeks. Children who took the probiotic needed less rescue medication and had better quality of life. The benefits were linked to positive changes in both gut and skin bacteria.
|
Randomized Controlled Trial |
Total Patients: 100
Severity: not available Age: 6-36 months
|
Significant improvement in eczema severity that was maintained after treatment |
|
📄
An 8-week treatment with probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics improved eczema symptoms in children. The severity of eczema decreased significantly, with the percentage of children having moderate-severe disease dropping from 92.4% to 28.1%.
|
Observational Study |
Total Patients: 320
|
Significant improvement in eczema severity |
Study Summary
The probiotic LGG helped improve eczema symptoms in young children when taken daily for 12 weeks. Children who took the probiotic needed less rescue medication and had better quality of life. The benefits were linked to positive changes in both gut and skin bacteria.
Therapeutic effects elicited by the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG in children with atopic dermatitis. The results of the ProPAD trialStudy Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 100
Severity: not available
Age: 6-36 months
Results
Significant improvement in eczema severity that was maintained after treatment
Study Summary
An 8-week treatment with probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics improved eczema symptoms in children. The severity of eczema decreased significantly, with the percentage of children having moderate-severe disease dropping from 92.4% to 28.1%.
Effect of synbiotic supplementation on children with atopic dermatitis: an observational prospective studyStudy Type
Observational Study
Studied Population
Total Patients: 320
Results
Significant improvement in eczema severity
What are other patients saying?
-
Try Probiotics
May 13, 2024Probiotics, beneficial bacteria that promote gut health, play a crucial role in enhancing the body's immune system. By maintaining a balanced gut microbiome, they help strengthen the immune response, potentially reducing inflammation associated with conditions like eczema. Integrating probiotics into the diet, through supplements or fermented foods, can support gut health and may contribute to managing eczema more effectively. Worth a try.
-
Probiotics
May 22, 2020So I've been on probiotics for 6 months and here's my experience. They do help, they really do but you need to take them religiously for at least 90 days. Don't give up too quickly becaus you don't notice a difference. I noticed a huge difference within one month. If you feel like you want to try them then please do. Obviously they won't help everyone but it's worth a try.
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Thanks to A LOT of research, I'm starting a new skincare routine! It's seemed to cure many people's severe eczema (including babies + older adults), so I'm excited !!
Jan. 12, 2025Continue reading for suggested products, order of use, etc. ♡ I'm going to start a new routine today and I’m super excited! It was inspired by u/NJoose as well as the amazing commenters I spoke to under one of their most popular [posts](https://www.reddit.com/r/eczema/comments/15g6fui/everything_changed_when_i_started_treating_it_as/). I’ve also taken note of what has proven to help me in the past. I truly believe severe eczema can become manageable if not cured and after tirelessly researching many studies, speaking with a countless amount of doctors and hearing experiences from others, I'm feeling pretty confident & hopeful about this. Please keep in mind, I've gone through many rounds of oral steroids, shots, topical steroids + creams... this is a totally new approach for me. I’m just sharing it all here incase it’ll help anyone & so I could give a clear update in a couple of months. Please feel free to add thoughts/tips/experience stories & wish me luck :) **I’ll Be Using:** \- Ameo Probiotic [Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09SSF5GNQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_9?smid=A20IQ0MWQL9YZN&psc=1) \- Streptococcus Thermophilus Probiotic Powder [Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D3J22SYL/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=A2BWIK2HM93SR4&psc=1) \- Bacillus Subtilis Probiotic Powder [Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CPJNJ9T5/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?smid=A2BWIK2HM93SR4&psc=1) \- Hibiclens Cleanser [Here](https://www.amazon.com/Hibiclens-Antimicrobial-Antiseptic-Cleanser-Cleansing/dp/B00EV1D79A?pd_rd_w=kQuoW&content-id=amzn1.sym.528bfdfa-ea96-478b-a7d9-043e650836af&pf_rd_p=528bfdfa-ea96-478b-a7d9-043e650836af&pf_rd_r=J9R9363NFSYS31Q0FDA3&pd_rd_wg=WCSsW&pd_rd_r=f8f77536-6238-462f-83dc-07e31ed8a0c5&pd_rd_i=B00EV1D79A&ref_=pd_basp_d_rpt_ba_s_3_t&th=1) \- CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser [Here](https://www.ulta.com/p/hydrating-foaming-oil-cleanser-water-based-face-wash-dry-skin-pimprod2039907?sku=2611324) \- AmLactin Lotion [Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8SSB4G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1) \- SILVEX (alt to Amerigel) [Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07964SRBL/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1) \- Eucerin Dry Skin Intensive [Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098YQH2O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2PPTLQQF5W4GJ&psc=1) \- Lipikar AP+M Triple [Here](https://www.ulta.com/p/lipikar-apm-triple-repair-body-moisturizing-cream-dry-skin-xlsImpprod17102349?sku=2521449) \- SkinSmart Antimicrobial Eczema Therapy [Here](https://www.amazon.com/SkinSmart-ANTIMICROBIAL-oz-Clear-Hypochlorous-ingredients/dp/B01N0O0TV7) I couldn’t find the 5% Eucerin but I found a 10% version, hopefully it helps. **My New Routine:** \[1\] Take Ameo every morning on an empty stomach. \[2\] Cleansing with Hibiclens and CeraVe (always finishing with extra attention to hands). \[3\] Alternate probiotic powders (spraying the water/silvex solution onto my skin post-shower and whenever I’m irritated). \[4\] Topping that with AmLactin. \[5\] Alternate Lipitor and Eucerin moisturizers. \[6\] Spraying SkinSmart Antimicrobial immediately after sweating (which I already do and it has helped sooo much, even with removing + preventing pimples and scarring due to the gym). \[7\] swabbing nose with Muripocin twice a day for 10 days — starting today with Hibiclens as a replacement until I receive the Muripocin. **All of this will be in addition to my already existing approach:** \- elimination diet (cut sugar, dairy, fried foods… basically everything I like lol), \- workout and sauna daily, \- changing bedsheets 2x week, \- not wearing certain fabrics (wool, polyester, nylon… I only wear cotton atp), \- no liquor or weed, \- at least half a gallon of water a day, \- hella vitamins after breakfast \- remaining as consistent as possible if you cannot afford everything and struggle with where to start, it's been recommended to prioritize the Ameo Probiotic. In addition, replacing soaps with cleansers and choosing the right moisturizer. Moisturize 2-5 mins after shower + throughout the day. Also, pat instead of rubbing when drying skin. of course, I'll be patch-testing first while keeping a close eye on everything DAILY. I'll also carefully document the entire experience. ***I welcome everyone's knowledge; please use this post as an additional resource!*** ♡ wishing everyone a speedy, relief-filled recovery! ♡
Multi-strain probiotic combinations may be more effective than single strains, and treatment duration of 8-12 weeks appears to be optimal for seeing benefits
What does the research say?
| Study Summary | Study Type | Studied Population | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
📄
An 8-week treatment with probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics improved eczema symptoms in children. The severity of eczema decreased significantly, with the percentage of children having moderate-severe disease dropping from 92.4% to 28.1%.
|
Observational Study |
Total Patients: 320
|
Significant improvement in eczema severity |
|
📄
Taking specific probiotics and prebiotics for 12 weeks helped improve mild eczema symptoms, including itching and skin lesions. The study suggests that these supplements might help maintain stable eczema and reduce flare-ups.
|
Observational Study |
Total Patients: 144
Severity: mild Age: not specified (mean age 25.1 ± 17.6 years)
|
All measures of eczema severity showed significant improvement after 12 weeks of probiotic treatment |
Study Summary
An 8-week treatment with probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics improved eczema symptoms in children. The severity of eczema decreased significantly, with the percentage of children having moderate-severe disease dropping from 92.4% to 28.1%.
Effect of synbiotic supplementation on children with atopic dermatitis: an observational prospective studyStudy Type
Observational Study
Studied Population
Total Patients: 320
Results
Significant improvement in eczema severity
Study Summary
Taking specific probiotics and prebiotics for 12 weeks helped improve mild eczema symptoms, including itching and skin lesions. The study suggests that these supplements might help maintain stable eczema and reduce flare-ups.
Probiotics and Prebiotics Orally Assumed as Disease Modifiers for Stable Mild Atopic Dermatitis: An Italian Real-Life, Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational StudyStudy Type
Observational Study
Studied Population
Total Patients: 144
Severity: mild
Age: not specified (mean age 25.1 ± 17.6 years)
Results
All measures of eczema severity showed significant improvement after 12 weeks of probiotic treatment
What are other patients saying?
-
Omega 3, probiotics and Reishi mushroom capsules are healing my hand eczema
April 27, 2024UPDATE: There’s more detail in my comment, but my eczema is basically gone. Here is a picture (3 Nov 2024): https://imgur.com/a/PZvp50T. After everything I would say what helped me most is Polysporin antibiotic ointment together with Gold Bond 2% Colloidal Oatmeal Eczema Cream several times a day (this plus Aquaphor cream and cotton gloves at night) and also Canesten anti-fungal cream (for athlete’s foot). ORIGINAL: I want to share my experience with what I believe to be dyshidrotic hand eczema in the hopes that it can help someone else struggling with the same. This mostly affected my right hand and also starting on the fingers of my left hand. I started noticing the redness, dryness and little blisters below the ring finger on my right hand palm about a year ago (May 2023). I don't know for sure what the trigger was, but we did install a heat pump in our home during this time which caused the humidity to be significantly lower (as measured by the baby monitor) so it might have been the sudden dry air. It very slowly started to spread to my ring finger and the rest of my palm. It was barely noticeable and didn’t bother me too much at first and I applied normal hand creams to see if it would help. I saw my nurse practitioner in August 2023 and she prescribed a corticosteroid ointment, but I was weary to use this based on my mom’s experience. She struggled with severe eczema on her hands for 10 years and I know how extremely thin her skin is now after using corticosteroids. She also said that it seemed to work for a while but the eczema always came back after stopping the cream. My mom used to take chronic blood pressure medication without problems for years. After receiving topical iodine in the hospital during surgery her eczema started. She struggled with it for 10 years with nothing really helping and then one day stopped her blood pressure medication and her eczema disappeared almost completely within a few days. My eczema spread slowly but it wasn't really bad enough to make me worry too much. I tried different creams and oils including the corticosteroid ointment. It didn't really help significantly and the eczema just got worse when I stopped. Around the end of January 2024 my hand suddenly got significantly worse, possibly stress-related. I felt like I had to start covering it up with gloves when going out. I also started taking Evening Primrose Oil Capsules to see if it would help and after a few days I suddenly got a very red, bumpy rash on my whole face and neck. I have acne-prone skin, but this was so bad that I didn't want to go out at all and mostly stayed home. I also noticed red spots on top of my hand which I thought was the eczema spreading. I realized that I probably had to go and see a doctor again, but this time I looked for someone who will help me figure out what the cause was instead of just prescribing another cream. I started seeing a Naturopathic Doctor - a medical doctor who is not against mainstream medicine, but who also has a more holistic approach and can suggest alternative options as well. She said that my skin problems might be as a result of inflammation in my body since I do have an auto-immune disease in the family. She said my face rash was rosacea and acne. I’m not sure if the rosacea part is accurate since my rash didn’t look like the pattern on pictures that I saw, but I also couldn't find anything else that it could be. Regardless, I reduced my sugar intake, started eating a bit healthier (just more veggies really, I love dairy, meat, pasta etc. and no special diet otherwise) and also took a very high dose of vitamin D and activated quercetin anti-inflammatories. My face cleared up soon after starting this so I do believe this helped. I also noticed the texture of the skin on my face was very noticeably softer and smoother than before, the best it has probably ever been. I haven't really gotten any acne again or felt like I need to use foundation in the months after starting these supplements whereas I used to constantly get a few spots here and there. This didn't really improve my hand though, which had a very red area with a defined border on the palm of my hand and puffy skin around some of my nails, with nail pitting and the skin pulling away from the nail. I went back to the doctor since by now the spots on the top of my hand had turned into a patchy red rash stretching onto my arm. She said that this looked like a fungal infection that I might have picked up through the broken eczema skin, and she prescribed Lamisil. It seemed to work after a few weeks. It left a bit of a “footprint” or scarring so I couldn't tell it was healing, but it's pretty much gone now. The doctor also said I should try the corticosteroid ointment on my palm and fingers again. I did for 2 weeks during which the skin was slightly less dry, but when I stopped I had a huge flare-up. I went back to the doctor as soon as I could and she gave me Omega 3, probiotics and Reishi m
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Probiotics and Eczema
Sept. 5, 2020I've been reading about how probiotics can help with eczema. But every time I've tried them in the past, either probiotic yogurt or supplements, I've had terrible diarrhea afterwards. Online it says that the diarrhea is temporary. For those of you who take probiotics and have experienced diarrhea, how long does the diarrhea last? Any tips for me on how to avoid these side effects? Note: I am lactose intolerant
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Probiotics greatly improved my Vesicular hand dermatitis eczema
June 22, 2018I am writing to share my experience after I read this post: [https://www.reddit.com/r/eczema/comments/3m0mg5/my\_severe\_dyshidrotic\_eczema\_journey\_and\_what/](https://www.reddit.com/r/eczema/comments/3m0mg5/my_severe_dyshidrotic_eczema_journey_and_what/) I recommend you read this person's whole story. I found this article when after seeing two primary care physicians and two dermatologist, multiple steroid creams and ointments and dealing with vesicular hand dermatitis for over a year. My final visit, due to the severity and the fact the creams were not working the doctor recommended oral Prednisone pills. That's when I decided to search around and found the story above. Cutting to the chase, I started taking probiotics about a month ago, and have seen drastic changes to my eczema, it's basically gone. I don't have flare ups, the inching, redness or raised skin. I still have a small area on my finger that is barely noticeable if you look closely, but nothing like before. I believe this is due to taking probiotics regularly every day. **Here is what I've been doing:** * Taking Ultimate Flora 30 Billion. I take one pill a day after breakfast. * [https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Probiotic-Supplement-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B005GRGCWM](https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Probiotic-Supplement-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B005GRGCWM) * Drinking Keifer on and off when I crave dairy. Although I still drink milk. * I tried to cut out wheat/gluten but failed so now I'm eating bread regularly and haven't noticed any more flare ups or issues. * I cut out coffee and have been eating less refined sugars. . **My Theory:** Because probiotics helps build good bacteria in your body which can fight off viral infections, I believe this has helped my eczema and other issues. Over the past two years, I have had steady decline in my blood platelet count . Coincidentally, my count went up this month! I believe taking probiotics has helped fight off whatever viral infection I've had going on in my body. Hopefully this can help somebody as it helped me. All I can do is say thanks to [**u/kishbish**](https://www.reddit.com/user/kishbish) for posting her story. Again as of now my symptoms are basically non-existent since I've been taking probiotics and I never had to take the Prednisone pills. After a year and a half, my hands finally feel great!
Is Probiotics Right For Me?
What is Probiotics?
Lactobacillus is a type of beneficial bacteria (probiotic) that can be applied to the skin or taken as a supplement. It's found naturally in fermented foods and can be used in skincare products.
What are the requirements for taking Probiotics?
Probiotics might be right for you if:
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You have atopic dermatitis
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You have acne
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You want to refresh and soothe your skin
How does Probiotics work?
Lactobacillus works by helping maintain a healthy balance of bacteria on your skin. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help calm irritated skin and support your skin's natural barrier.
Is it safe for children?
Unknown - While probiotics are often used in children, specific safety guidelines for topical use in children with atopic dermatitis are not well established. Consult with a pediatrician before use.
Is it safe for elderly patients?
Unknown - While probiotics are generally considered safe for elderly patients, specific safety guidelines for topical use in elderly patients with atopic dermatitis are not well established.
Is it safe during pregnancy?
Unknown - While probiotics are generally considered safe during pregnancy, you should consult your healthcare provider before using any new treatments.
Is it safe during breastfeeding?
Unknown - While probiotics are generally considered safe during breastfeeding, you should consult your healthcare provider before using any new treatments.
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It started as red itch rash behind my knees during Dec 2022. Back then I did nothing and take no action until it got gradually worse, slowly spreading to my upper legs and arms. 3 months later I would have weeping sore that refused to heal because it got infected. Light damage to my skin (scratches) will cause it to grow into stubborn red rash that won't go away for months. In April 2023 I finally decided to visit the doctor and take action to treat my eczema condition. I'm from Malaysia and the clinic is called Klinik Genga, it's a GP clinic but also experienced in treating eczema. Their treatment specifically mentioned there will be no use of steroid and immuno-suppresive medicine. Their signature electro-vascular stimulation treatment is used to improve our lymphatic system and encourage circulation of lymph to remove toxic substances from our body (including our skin). They also stated eczema has a lot to do with poor gut health that caused inflammatory substance to leak from our guts into our bloodstream. The stimulation treatment are to be done once / twice weekly, in which they apply small electric pulse to your lymph nodes area. IMO they may or may not have helped with my condition. Below are things that I did according to doctor advice and also my own internet research on eczema, in 1.5 months to get the results you see in the photos:- 1. Drink plenty of water. I used to have a bad habit of not drinking water until I feel thirsty, and my pee is frequently potent yellow in colour which is sign of dehydration. Our lymphatic system unlike our blood stream don't have heart pumping to circulate it around. Not being decently hydrated cause our lymph fluid to thicken and harder to flow, this may causes toxin byproduct created by our skin cells to accumulate longer and cause inflammation. 2. Taking probiotics and prebiotics. The doctor prescribed me probiotic pill + spirulina to treat my potential leaky gut issues. I also upped the effort myself by eating more fresh vegetables and fruits daily for the fibres (prebiotics) + yogurts. I've been told to avoid spicy and salty foods. Sugary and fried foods are also widely believed to worsen inflammation in our guts system. 3. Diet changes. Doctor has recommended me to drink more milk because according to him vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is good at alleviating eczema lesion. I know this is a controversial advice as I've seen quite some people in this subreddit has their eczema linked to dairy consumption. Other than that I've been eating healthier in overall so I can get the necessary nutrients and vitamins that my body potentially lack. 4. Fish oil and Vitamin D supplements. I believe this is one of the changes that showed the most improvements to my eczema (though other changes are equally important IMO). I've been taking 1000mg fish oil and 1000IU vitamin D twice daily. Fish oil is believed to be highly anti-inflammatory while vitamin D is crucial for regulating skin immune system. I also make sure I get some amount of Vitamin B2 and C from my diet. 5. (Subjective) Topical ointment / moisturizer. Initially I would apply Cetaphil Pro ad-derma to the affected areas, as I thought my condition is caused by dry skin. However after a few days my skin would develop sensitivity to it and make the redness and weeping worse. Changed to another neem seed / sea buckthorn oil balm and the same things happen a couple of weeks later, in which my skin gets itchy after applying it. When I start to notice my skin is healing (reduced redness and increased skin flaking) I swapped to another topical probiotic cream with colloidal oatmeal. Not sure if this one helped as my skin is already healing from the inside. Though during this stage it can still be quite itchy whether I moisturize or not. I would wake up at night most of the times. 6. Fast forward to 1.5 months later today, there's no longer any open sore or weeping on any part of my body. Those spot which previously are worst affected are now smooth new skin that no longer itches. Though the hyper-pigmentation / scarring underneath I believe will take many months to dissipate. Also I lost 5kg of weight from 79 to 74kg (I'm 183cm tall), probably because my body spent all the excess calories by fighting inflammation and shedding shit tons of skin flakes. Today my skin is much healed and they're no longer flaking. TL:DR - I healed my moderately severe discoid eczema in 1.5 months by drinking more water, healing my guts with probiotic, eating healthy with more veggies / fruits, and taking fish oil + Vitamin D supplements. Also moisturizing didn't do much in helping with my eczema condition.
been struggling w an almost full body flare up for over 2 years now. been thru hell and back with medical mispractice and ignorance (kaiser doctors literally refusing to give me a dermatologist referral, “just try these steroids first!!”) (which led to TSW) 4 days ago on christmas night i took photos of my skin. entire legs and arms were RED, weeping, bleeding, horrible. today i woke up to almost clear skin on my arms :,) i immediately texted 7 of my friends because i’m jumping with joy sobriety, cutting out milk and caffeine, vitamins/probiotics/ibuprofen everyday, and sticking to my lotion/UVB routine heavy has made a world of difference still a ways to go, but i see the light y’all 😭😭🙏 god is good :,)
you should really spare yourself the heartache and just use it. i was one of those people who never used steroids because it hardly worked for me as a child, and also the constant mention of tsw in this subreddit also put me off from using. however tsw only happens with prolonged used of steroids witout breaks(6 months+ based on what ive seen in this sub) so you shouldnt worry about that. i apply bethamethasone valerate 0.1% for 2 weeks and take a 1 week break, i have seen massive changes in my skin since. you should note that steroids are a temporary solution, so whenever you're off them your skin will get worse(the severity is based on how much triggers you still have) dont be like me and rawdog this condition, ive done this my entire life and i regret it. things i did that improved my condition: eat more fruits n vegs get 20+ min of sunlight everyday or eat a vit d tablet exercise more(some light walking can suffice, you dont have to overexert yourself) eat probiotic foods/pills cephalexin (only take these if your skin is weeping) these things may sound like common knowledge but it is hard to do whenever your skin is flaring up and its hard to move/dont want to be seen and the steroids gave me the ability to do these simple things.