How much influence does the gut microbiome have on developing eczema or allergies? Turns out, quite a lot. Join this special excerpt from our research symposium to learn how antibiotics in pregnancy and early childhood increases eczema risk and how adding "biotics" might prevent it in the first place. Our speakers are Dr. David Margolis (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Nikole Kimes (Siolta Therapeutics). If you like our podcast, please consider supporting it with a tax deductible donation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses biological extracts to treat disease. Eczema sufferers may take a herbal bath, apply a specially formulated cream or drink herbal tea as part of TCM treatment. Dr. Xiu Min Li from New York Medical College explains TCM and we ask: Is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) safe for newborns? Can you use TCM and topical steroids simultaneously? Could TCM prevent the allergic march?

Research mentioned

Investigation of Berberine's Potential in Attenuating Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Inflammatory Responses

Investigation of In vitro Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Effects of Berberine

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in moderate-to-severe eczema in clinic and animal model: beyond corticosteroids

Traditional Chinese medicine for food allergy and eczema

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine on skin lesions and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe eczema

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for atopic dermatitis: Evidence from eight high-quality randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Are you feeling lost and don’t know where to find trusted advice on managing eczema? Introducing ECZHALE, your one-stop-shop for reliable information and resources on eczema care. Join Dr. Jennifer LeBovidge, psychologist and Assistant Professor at the Atopic Dermatitis Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, and GPER’s Christine Pham Cutaran as they discuss the challenges of being an eczema caregiver and where you can turn for help. 

Literature mentioned

Multidisciplinary interventions in the management of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis: therapeutic care delivery: therapeutic education, shared decision-making, and access to care

Improving patient education for atopic dermatitis

Resources

ECZHALE wellness hub

Support for Eczema Caregivers

Treatment Navigator

Is getting rid of Staph aureus in the gut the key to improving eczema? And can we control it without antibiotics? Join us as we ask these questions and more of Dr. Michael Otto, Chief of the Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section at the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases. (And if you like our podcast, consider supporting it with a tax deductible donation).

Research mentioned

Probiotic for pathogen-specific Staphylococcus aureus decolonisation in Thailand: a phase 2, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis contributes to skin barrier homeostasis by generating protective ceramides 

The association between Staphylococcus aureus colonization on cheek skin at 2 months and subsequent atopic dermatitis in a prospective birth cohort

Skin microbiota analysis-inspired development of novel anti-infectives

Combined antibiotic, steroid, and moisturizer for atopic dermatitis: A two‐year case series of patient‐reported outcomes

Korey Capozza travels to Spain for the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress where she speaks to researchers that are trying to explain the allergy epidemic and what we can do about it. Highlights: Dr. Magdalena Zemelka-Wiacek (Poland) explains microplastics cause inflammation. Tami Landau (Israel) uses “big data” to determine which children will develop eczema, and Dr Thomas Bieber (Germany) accesses the German Biobank to understand why some children go into remission.   

Research Mentioned

Mechanisms of gut epithelial barrier impairment caused by food emulsifiers polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80 

Follow-up to adolescence after early peanut introduction for allergy prevention 

The potential impact of nano-and microplastics on human health: Understanding human health risks

Biomarkers for phenotype-endotype relationship in atopic dermatitis

Development of a predictive model for pediatric atopic dermatitis

Could the diet and lifestyle of a mother during pregnancy influence whether her baby will develop eczema? Our podcast guests are studying the role that diet and the gut microbiome play in pregnancy. Join Dr. Carina Venter and Dr. Susan Lynch as we discuss what pregnant mothers can do to reduce the chances of baby developing eczema or allergies. (And if you like our podcast, consider supporting it with a tax deductible donation).

Research mentioned

Delayed gut microbiota development in high-risk for asthma infants is temporarily modifiable by Lactobacillus supplementation

Heritable vaginal bacteria influence immune tolerance and relate to early-life markers of allergic sensitization in infancy

Different Measures of Diet Diversity During Infancy and the Association with Childhood Food Allergy in a UK Birth Cohort Study  

The Maternal Diet Index and Offspring Microbiota at 1 Month of Life: Insights from the Mediterranean Birth Cohort MAMI 

Frustrated by eczema care that ignores patient priorities? New guidelines from the medical societies for allergists and immunologists may help change that. These guidelines were informed by the views of eczema patients and caregivers and based in evidence (hallelujah!). We chat with the guideline co-authors Dr. Lynda Schneider, founder and director of the Atopic Dermatitis Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Derek Chu, director of  the challenge clinic for allergy diagnosis, research and treatment at McMaster University, about some of the new and surprising ideas they recommend. (And if you like our podcast, consider supporting it with a tax deductible donation). Read the transcript.

Research mentioned

Atopic dermatitis guidelines: 2023 

Is Food-Triggered Atopic Dermatitis a Form of Systemic Contact Dermatitis?

Frustrated by eczema care that ignores patient priorities? New guidelines from the medical societies for allergists and immunologists may help change that. These guidelines were informed by the views of eczema patients and caregivers and based on evidence (hallelujah!). We chat with the guideline co-authors Dr. Lynda Schneider, founder and director of the Atopic Dermatitis Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Derek Chu, director of the challenge clinic for allergy diagnosis, research and treatment at McMaster University, about some of the new and surprising ideas they recommend.  

Research mentioned

Atopic dermatitis guidelines: 2023 

Is Food-Triggered Atopic Dermatitis a Form of Systemic Contact Dermatitis?

Five GPER staff members attended the American Academy of Dermatology conference in February, the biggest gathering of dermatologists worldwide.  We bring you the newest treatments and latest research straight from the source.  Join our conversation with GPER staffers Korey Capozza, Kara Orevillo, Christine Cutaran and Michelle Tu about what stood out this year.  (And if you like our podcast, consider supporting it with a tax deductible donation).

Could we cure allergies by taking probiotics or transplanting the gut microbiome from a healthy person? What does all this mean for eczema/allergy prevention? To find out, join our conversation with Dr. Rima Rachid, allergist and immunologist at Harvard Children’s Hospital, and Meenal Lele, eczema mom and author of Baby and the Biome. We discuss the promising trials with fecal microbiota transplants for food allergic children as well as the best probiotic to take for eczema and when it’s important to take it. (And if you like our podcast, consider supporting it with a tax deductible donation). 

Literature featured in this podcast

The microbial origins of food allergy

Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Oral Encapsulated Microbiota Transplantation Therapy in Peanut Allergic Patients 

Lactobacillus rhamnosus Used in the Perinatal Period for the Prevention of Atopic Dermatitis in Infants

The Baby and the Biome book