Atopic eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition driven by a hypersensitivity reaction, similar to an allergic response. It most commonly appears in infancy and early childhood. Children with eczema frequently also develop asthma or allergic rhinitis (hay fever), and there is often a strong family history of allergic conditions, including eczema, asthma, or seasonal allergies.
Research increasingly suggests that immune programming early in life—even before birth—may influence eczema risk. A meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, published in the British Journal of Nutrition (online July 26, 2011), examined the effects of maternal probiotic supplementation during pregnancy. The review found that mothers who supplemented with probiotics during pregnancy were less likely to have children who developed atopic eczema, with protective effects observed in children between two and seven years of age.
These findings support the idea that modifying the maternal microbiome during pregnancy may influence immune development in the child, potentially reducing the risk of allergic skin disease later in childhood.
