Preventing eczema

Hi everyone,

I've recently found some research that indicates taking probiotics (a particular strain of them) during pregnancy can help reduce the likelihood of children developing eczema. There's one called EczemaShield.

Has anyone tried this out and had success?

Do you know of any other research/ articles?

I am really interested in this area as I suffered as a kid to the point where I had to really think carefully if I wanted to risk any chance of inflicting this on my own children. While I'm able to treat myself reasonably well now I want to do all I can to prevent passing this on.

hey ladybird,

I'm currently trying the Eczema shield. I also asked my paed about it... he basically said... well there's some literature that suggests it might help, but I wouldn't be re-mortgaging your house over it!

To be honest, I haven't yet taken it quite consistently enough yet I think - it's in a powder form which I find a PITA to take. I keep meaning to start taking it regularly and see.... but i figured it wouldn't hurt to try it anyway.

I'm also toying with going off dairy to see if that helps also (suggested by both GP and paed)... but so far I've procrastinated about doing this.... mebbe some day soon! Have you seen any other suggestions for things to try?

Cheers,
Belfie

Hi belfie,

thanks for your reply. For myself the most noticeable improvement has come from taking evening primrose oil, fish oil and vitamin e - about 2 of each three times a day, definitely noticed a change in skin texture, far less dry. Also take a fair amount of zinc (which I'm a little concerned about when I do conceive) but I have a feeling i'm just not storing it normally. Again I notice a big difference, any eczema heals quickly and i am generally more tolerant to foods etc.

The other thing I'm very curious about is the connection between cows and allergies. There is some bacteria living on dairy cows that exposure to reduces the likely hood of allergies - again this is hard to find more info on.

Please let me know if you notice anything on eczma shield - I think I'll try it for myself and see if it can do anything for already existing condition.

I am currently participating in a study program through the RCH that involved taking huge doses of probiotics during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy to minimise eczema & other allergies in children.

My DD is having her 1yr allergy & asthma scan next week.

The results won't be publically avaliable for another 3 years i think, but this was a pretty big project - covering 400 women/children for 4 years +.

The previous study was done in Italy i believe, where they took probiotics for the whole pregnancy, but a different study showed not much difference between taking it the whole pregnancy and only during the last 4 weeks. We have been taking stool samples from birth - 6 months, and vaginal swabs from myself during pregnancy.

The probiotics (i'm told), were far stronger than anything than is avaliable commerically here. WEe had to take 6 tablets a day. I will ask next week how strong each tablet was. The study was done on anyone with a family history of skin conditions, food allergies or asthma.

As somebody with very severe eczema, i have a big invested interested in seeing if i can reduce this in my kids. My DS has no signs of anything, and i just noticed an hr ago my DD has a large eczema looking patch behind 1 knee. I really hope this isn't the beginning :(

Hi Yael - how interesting about that study. I hope that your DD doesn't develop eczema. I wonder if they will tell you how strong your tablets were as in most studys they won't tell you whether you get the real thing or a placebo. Would love to hear your updates as you go. :)