Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Pillser
Search
Sign UpLog In

Topical probiotic Lactobacillus lactis treatment in atopic dermatitis: a placebo-controlled pilot study on tolerability and efficacy.

  • 2026-02-03
  • Frontiers in medicine 13
    • Ville Salo
    • Anita Remitz
    • Antti Lauerma
    • Alexander Salava

Study Design

Type
Clinical Trial
Sample size
n = 13
Population
13 patients with mild-to-moderate AD
Methods
treated with differently concentrated probiotic creams (3, 10, and 30%) for 4 weeks
Duration
4 weeks

Introduction

Microbiome-targeted treatments have been investigated in atopic dermatitis (AD). We aimed to investigate the tolerability and efficacy of probiotic Lactobacillus lactis lysate cream in AD.

Methods

A total of 13 patients with mild-to-moderate AD were treated with differently concentrated probiotic creams (3, 10, and 30%) for 4 weeks. The severity of AD [Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and Investigator Global Assessment (IGA)], epidermal barrier function (TEWL), and the impact of AD [Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool (ADCT), and pruritus and sleep disturbance visual analog scale (VAS)] were measured at baseline (BL) and at 4 and 8 weeks. Comprehensive clinical patient data and laboratory values, including blood eosinophil count, total serum IgE levels, and specific IgEs to aeroallergens, were obtained.

Results

Comparison of the treatment groups and longitudinal comparisons at various time points showed no significant differences regarding AD severity (EASI, p = 0.76, CI: 0.65-1.00), epidermal barrier dysfunction (TEWL, p = 0.37, CI: 0.19-0.73), or patient-reported subjective impact of AD (DLQI, p = 0.76, CI: 0.65-1.00; POEM, p = 0.76, CI: 0.35-0.88; ADCT, p = 0.72, CI: 0.65-1.00; pruritus VAS 0.67, CI: 0.55-1.00; sleep disturbance VAS, p = 1.00, CI: 0.79-1.00) between different probiotic lysate concentrations and placebo. The probiotic lysate cream was well-tolerated, and there were no significant adverse effects. The limitations of the study were the small patient cohort and group sizes. There was also a relatively short follow-up, and no evaluation of long-term effects was conducted.

Discussion

In our patient cohort, topical probiotic L. lactis lysate cream showed good tolerability, but it did not show efficacy in the treatment of mild-to-moderate AD. Although topical probiotics have been reported to be effective in a limited number of studies, more placebo-controlled clinical studies are needed to explore their potential role in the treatment of AD.

Clinical trial registration

https://eudract.ema.europa.eu, Identifier EudraCT 2020-000514-15.

Research Insights

Adverse Events Reported

  • Lactobacillus delbrueckii→Overall tolerability

    The probiotic lysate cream was well-tolerated, and there were no significant adverse effects.

    Finding
    Reported
Back to top