THE ROLE OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic skin diseases that require an integrated approach to treatment and prevention. The role of nutrition in the development and treatment of this disease is attracting more and more attention from specialists. The purpose of this article was to determine the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the prevention and treatment of AD based on an analysis of modern literature collected by searching the PubMed, Scopus and eLibrary databases for the period 2000-2024, as well as scientific journals in the field of dermatology and allergology and nutrition. In recent decades, significant changes have been observed in the structure of human nutrition. Diverse dietary components shape dietary habits and preferences, which can influence the likelihood of developing various chronic diseases, including AD. With the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the various modifying factors that cause such conditions. According to modern research, in the pathogenesis of AD development, special attention is paid to the ratio of ω-6 and ω-3 PUFAs in diets, which play an important role in improving skin condition due to their anti-inflammatory effect, helping to strengthen the skin barrier and reduce the symptoms of the disease. The use of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs for the most common skin diseases has been studied in numerous studies, but their results and conclusions have been largely contradictory and inconclusive. Thus, based on the review, we can conclude about the importance of including PUFAs in the diet of patients with AD to improve the effectiveness of treatment and prevention of this disease. Further research in this area will help in the development of more effective methods of controlling AD through nutritional correction.