Primary prevention

Evidence does not support specific maternal dietary interventions or allergen avoidance during pregnancy for prevention of atopic disease in children.

There is some evidence to suggest that dietary antigen avoidance by lactating mothers may reduce the severity of eczema in infants, and reduce the risk of developing eczema in children of high-risk women; larger trials are required.[41]

While probiotic treatment has been promoted as a preventative measure, the available data are of low or very low quality.[42][43][44]

One Cochrane systematic review determined that skincare interventions (e.g., emollients) utilised during the first year of life are unlikely to prevent eczema in healthy infants, and may increase risk of skin infection and possibly food allergy.[45] [ Cochrane Clinical Answers logo ]

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