Does taking Antibiotics Affect Eczema?
Will taking antibiotics worsen or increase the risk of developing eczema? Are there special considerations for antibiotic use in young children or pregnant women? In the last few years, several analyses of large population databases and reviews of multiple studies across time (meta analyses) are providing a clearer picture of antibiotics’ role in the development of eczema.
So does taking antibiotics cause eczema?
Yes, early antibiotic use in infants may increase eczema risk, but the effects of antibiotic use during the prenatal phase is still unclear.
First, maternal antibiotic use during pregnancy.
One 2020 meta analysis of 26 studies concluded that maternal use of antibiotics might increase the risk of eczema (69%) and asthma (29%). But a recent study in a major journal (JAMA) of 700,000 Swedish children had less clear-cut results. It found a strong link between prenatal antibiotic use and risk of eczema (52%), but the result disappeared when researchers compared the outcomes for siblings born when the mother did not take antibiotics, suggesting other environmental or genetic factors might contribute to eczema in these families. More studies are needed to clarify prenatal antibiotic use.
However, the effect on eczema development of early antibiotic use in babies and very young children are consistent across many studies.
In a 2017 meta analysis on antibiotics and eczema development of 34 studies (340,000 children) across 6 decades, researchers concluded that kids exposed to antibiotics in the first 2 years of life were 26% more likely to develop eczema.
A 2020 Korean study on eczema and antibiotics matched 244,000 children with eczema with an equal number of healthy kids. They found a greater risk (60%) of developing eczema in children who received antibiotics and that risk increased as the number of infections and antibiotic exposures increased.
A 2022 Taiwanese study looked at the correlation between infectious disease rates and eczema. They looked at over 21,000 children in a national health database and found that kids who eventually developed eczema were 13% more likely to have had infectious diseases than children without eczema. They also confirmed the results of previous studies that there was a significant increased risk of developing eczema after infection and systemic exposure to antibiotics.
So, should you take antibiotics if you are pregnant or have an infant with high risk of eczema? There are a number of reasons for being cautious about overuse of antibiotics, including encouraging antibiotic resistant bacteria that endanger us all. For more information from research professionals, check out this podcast with Dr. Richard Insel to learn about how antibiotics may influence the gut microbiome and eczema risk. If your family is prone to atopic diseases you might talk to your doctor about antibiotic use and your baby’s risk for eczema. And though the jury is still out on use of prenatal antibiotics, emerging evidence suggests it may be wise to minimize their use if your doctor agrees it is safe.
How to find out more about safe eczema treatments?
Check out our treatment navigator for evidence-based options for your child’s eczema treatment, including natural and alternative options.
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