You have probably often heard the term “intestinal flora” or “intestinal microbiota”. The alteration of the bacteria that are part of our microbiota has been associated with different diseases. Strange as it may seem, this alteration can even damage our skin.
One of these skin affections is atopic dermatitis. As you may remember from previous articles, atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by dry skin and intense itching. Probably you have never heard that the alteration of the bacteria in our intestinal microbiota may be one of the causes of atopic dermatitis. Therefore, it may become a new target for its treatment and prevention.
Let’s see it in detail!
Intestinal microbiota and atopic dermatitis
Microbiota is the microorganisms that coexist in the human body, primarily bacteria. Suppose we refer to those that inhabit our gut; in that case, we are talking about intestinal microbiota, although we can find them in other organs, such as the skin, as we already explained here .
These bacteria are beneficial, and their presence is necessary for the proper functioning of the digestive tract. Although no two microbiotas are the same, the proportion of the different types of bacteria and their functions is usually maintained between individuals. The alteration of these proportions is called dysbiosis and has been related to atopic dermatitis.
The intestinal microbiota helps regulate our immune system, favouring the maturation of immune system cells such as regulatory T lymphocytes. These control our immune cells so that they do not act against elements they should not, generating inflammatory or autoimmune responses; that is, they do not work against us. In addition, these bacteria produce compounds that have anti-inflammatory activity and protect the epithelium of our intestine, preventing toxic substances, poorly digested food and harmful microorganisms from entering the circulation. Its arrival on the skin can cause inflammation and a strong reaction causing tissue damage.
Recent studies have confirmed that children with atopic dermatitis have less diversity in their gut microbiota. They generally have fewer bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, or Akkermansia and more Escherichia coli, Clostridium, and Bacteroides.
Probiotics, restoring intestinal balance
Surely you are wondering what we can do to restore the intestinal microbiota balance. The answer is probiotics. According to the World Health Organization, probiotics are defined as foods or food supplements that contain living microorganisms and confer a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts. Some of them are natural yoghurt, kefir or kombucha.
Probiotics help regulate the intestinal microbiota and the immune system, improving the intestinal barrier. These effects can help reduce allergic reactions and the severity of atopic dermatitis.
Several clinical trials have shown probiotics’ beneficial or neutral effect in alleviating atopic dermatitis symptoms. The review of 8 clinical trials with a total of 741 babies demonstrated the beneficial effect of probiotics containing Lactobacillus. Recent discoveries of this gut-skin axis help to investigate further and describe new targets for the treatment of atopic dermatitis until it can become a fully effective treatment. At the moment, at Prospera Biotech, we work to offer you effective solutions based on neurocosmetic research. Nocisense, Nocisense intense and Nocisense baby are specifically designed for the care of sensitive skin with an atopic tendency, reducing sensitivity and helping to restore skin balance. Do you want to know more about them?
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Keywords: intestinal microbiota; probiotics; atopic dermatitis; skin; bacteria
References
- Fang, Z., Li, L., Zhang, H., Zhao, J., Lu, W., & Chen, W. (2021). Gut Microbiota, Probiotics, and Their Interactions in Prevention and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A Review. In Frontiers in Immunology (Vol. 12). Frontiers Media S.A. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.720393
- Moniaga, C. S., Tominaga, M., & Takamori, K. (2022). An Altered Skin and Gut Microbiota Are Involved in the Modulation of Itch in Atopic Dermatitis. In Cells (Vol. 11, Issue 23). MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11233930
- Rusu, E., Enache, G., Cursaru, R., Alexescu, A., Radu, R., Onila, O., Cavallioti, T., Rusu, F., Posea, M., Jinga, M., & Radulian, G. (2019). Prebiotics and probiotics in atopic dermatitis
