Volume 30, Issue 169, March 2026

Timing of complementary feeding: Introduction and the risk of atopic dermatitis in infants: A review of the literature

Izabella Zawadzka^♦, Jakub Szyszkowski, Natalia Kriese, Bartłomiej Kowalski, Zuzanna Zgrzywa, Ewelina Komorowska, Zofia Szpunar, Brygida Tucka, Paulina Wądołowska, Jakub Jaworski

Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Izabella Zawadzka, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a long-term inflammatory disease with many causes. It manifests itself with typical eczematous lesions and severe itching. Genetically or immunologically determined skin barrier dysfunction plays an important role in the pathological picture, contributing to the chronic nature of this disease. AD, one of the most common dermatoses in the pediatric population, is usually the primary manifestation of the so-called "atopic march." This phenomenon predisposes patients to the development of subsequent allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Genetic and environmental aspects, as well as immunological dysfunction, interact in a complex cascade to drive the pathomechanism of the disease. The understanding of how diet - specifically when babies start solids -impacts the development of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) has undergone a significant shift. The standard view was to consider that the answer lies in avoiding allergens and delaying their introduction, but the 'dual-allergen exposure hypothesis' challenges that old belief. Instead, it suggests that early contact through the diet is the mechanism that teaches the body to tolerate these foods. This review examines the latest evidence to pinpoint the optimal window for complementary feeding to prevent AD before it starts.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis, infants, complementary feeding, solid foods introduction, primary prevention, food allergy

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e55ms3786

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v30i169.e55ms3786

Published: 16 March 2026