Effect of Supplementation with a Specific Probiotic (

Summary: Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a common and often distressing skin condition for babies, causing itchy red patches. Scientists investigated whether mothers with a history of allergies could prevent eczema in their babies by taking a specific probiotic supplement starting at the 36th week of pregnancy.

The study followed the babies for their first year of life. The results showed that while the probiotic was perfectly safe, it didn't stop eczema from developing any better than a placebo. However, there was a silver lining: for the infants who did develop severe eczema, those whose mothers took the probiotic experienced a milder course of the disease compared to the placebo group.