Phytic acid—a compound found in high-fiber foods—improved skin barrier function in mice with atopic dermatitis when taken orally or applied topically. It worked by reshaping the skin's microbiota to produce more of a compound called indole-3-propionic acid, which strengthened the skin's natural protective barrier. This is early-stage research in mice, not humans.

Researchers used mice with induced atopic dermatitis to test whether phytic acid could improve their skin barrier. They measured barrier function, analyzed skin microbiota composition, and tracked metabolite changes to understand the mechanism.

Funding not disclosed in abstract