Eczema is a skin condition that affects many babies and kids. In fact, about 60% of cases show up within the first year of life [1]. While genetics and environmental factors have long been linked to eczema, emerging research points to the “gut-skin axis” playing a crucial role in how eczema develops [2].
Recent studies also show that what we eat, particularly prebiotics and probiotics, can make a big difference for children with eczema, great news for parents seeking to manage their little one’s symptoms [3], [4]. Specific prebiotics like Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) and beneficial Bifidobacterium probiotics may help regulate the gut-skin axis, leading to better eczema outcomes.
Begin Health is the pioneer in the baby and kids' health and wellness category, offering science-backed, microbiome-focused solutions that support healthy kid development from day one. Their mission is to lead a new generation of preventive health, empowering parents with simple, effective, and targeted nutrition that nurtures kids’ foundational wellness through digestive health.
In this blog, the Begin Health team will dive into how prebiotics and probiotics can help support your child’s skin health by supporting their gut.
How does the gut-skin axis affect eczema?
The gut-skin axis is the two-way connection between the bacteria in our gut (the microbiome) and our skin. A healthy gut helps regulate the immune system, which can help prevent or reduce skin inflammation [2]. When the gut is out of balance, it can increase inflammation and worsen skin issues, including eczema.
How prebiotics can help with eczema: Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs)
Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that feed our beneficial gut bacteria, helping them grow and thrive. Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) are special prebiotic sugars found in human breastmilk. In fact, they are the third most abundant component of breastmilk after lactose and fat! HMOs help important beneficial bacteria, like Bifidobacterium, grow in a baby’s gut [5].
HMOs may help manage allergic conditions like eczema by influencing the immune system and strengthening the gut barrier, which can support inflammation and reduce unfriendly microbes that could trigger eczema flare-ups [6]. HMOs can also help stimulate the growth of Bifidobacterium, which is found in higher amounts in infants without eczema [7].
Probiotics for eczema: How Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus can help
Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for the gut. Bifidobacterium is a common probiotic that is very important in early life, as they dominate the gut of healthy, breastfed infants. Unfortunately, about 90% of babies don’t have enough Bifidobacterium [8]. The absence of these key bacteria may leave space for unfriendly microbes to grow unchecked, disrupt the gut barrier, or promote inflammation. And this may raise the risk for inflamed skin reactions such as eczema [9].
Specific species of Bifidobacterium have shown promise in helping manage eczema. In a study of children ages 4-17, those who took a probiotic blend of Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, and Lactobacillus casei saw significant improvements in their eczema within 12 weeks and used significantly fewer topical steroids [10].
Probiotics work by balancing the gut, which plays a key role in supporting healthy skin and immunity. Data from a meta-analysis involving 2,093 infants shows that a mix of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium can significantly reduce the microbiome risk of developing eczema in early life. This preventive effect was more pronounced when the probiotic was taken during pregnancy rather than in infancy alone [11].
How HMOs and Bifidobacterium work together
Prebiotics like HMOs and probiotics like Bifidobacterium work hand-in-hand to keep the gut healthy. HMOs feed Bifidobacterium, stimulating their growth. When Bifidobacterium break down HMOs, they produce short-chain fatty acids, which create a gut environment where beneficial bacteria thrive. Together, HMOs and Bifidobacterium help support the immune system and skin health, potentially reducing eczema flare-ups.
You can find prebiotics naturally in foods like onions, garlic, and leeks. You can also introduce targeted nutrition supplements, like Begin Health’s Growing Up Prebiotics, which combines 2’-FL HMOs and chicory root fiber to help feed beneficial bacteria, promoting a healthy gut and balanced immune response.
How Early Seeding of the Gut Can Improve Skin Health in Infants
The earlier a baby’s gut gets the right bacteria, the better for their long-term health. Babies receive beneficial bacteria during birth and through breastfeeding, a process called seeding. These bacteria, especially Bifidobacterium, help them develop a strong immune system. But when babies are born by C-section births or need antibiotics early on, their gut can become unbalanced, increasing their microbiome risk of developing eczema [12].
For parents seeking extra support for their baby’s gut health, Begin Health’s Beginbaby Prebiotic + Probiotic offers a 3-in-1 blend of 2’FL-HMOs, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium lactis. This combination helps nourish your baby’s gut and may support healthier skin with reduced eczema symptoms.
Key Takeaways:
- A healthy gut microbiome, supported by prebiotics and probiotics, can help manage eczema by supporting the immune system and reducing inflammation.
- HMOs, a prebiotic found naturally in breastmilk, promote the growth of Bifidobacterium, which helps balance the gut and support immune health.
- Probiotics with certain Bifidobacterium strains can help reduce the severity of eczema symptoms by enhancing gut health and lowering inflammation.
- HMOs and Bifidobacterium work together to keep the gut balanced and skin healthy, a promising approach to eczema care for kids.
- Early seeding of an infant’s gut microbiome, through vaginal birth and breastfeeding, is crucial for long-term immune and skin health. For babies with gut imbalances HMOs and probiotics may help restore balance and reduce the microbiome risk of eczema.
Talk to your healthcare provider before introducing prebiotics or probiotics to your child’s diet, especially if they have any health concerns.
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