The gut microbiome alterations in allergic and inflammatory skin diseases – an update

The human microbiome is a wide range of microorganisms residing in and on our body. The homeostasis between host immune system and the microbial environment allows mutual benefits and protection. Physiological bacterial colonization is essential for the establishment of organism immunity. The human microbiota ecosystem can be divided into several compartments, out of which intestinal flora strongly affects our health and plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of many diseases. The gastrointestinal tract, being a major guardian of the immune system, maintains the homeostasis with the commensal microorganisms by tolerating the typical flora antigens. The dysbiosis may trigger an inflammatory response followed by tissue damage or autoimmune processes. The gut microbiome alterations are linked to the pathogenesis of the allergic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolic, neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Moreover, there is increasing evidence connecting the skin condition with the gastrointestinal microbiome, which has been described as the skin-gut axis. The aim of this study was to review the literature regarding the role of the gut microbiome alterations in the pathogenesis of selected allergic and inflammatory skin diseases.