Probiotics and the skin

A review of the relationships between probiotics and the skin is presented. After a brief historical introduction, the main pathophysiological data on intestinal microflora, the immune system and the skin are presented. Clinical studies with probiotics in atopic children are discussed in detail. Many experimental studies have found that probiotics exert specific effects in the luminal lumen and on epithelial cells and immune cells with antiallergic potential. Not all probiotics have the same immunological properties. Moreover, although rarely, complications of probiotic use can occur and must be known and taken into account. This review underlines the potential interest in probiotics for the management of skin pathology.