Salt and SWET
The University of Nottingham announced November 27 that it has received funding of nearly £1million from the UK Department of Health to study 310 families in hard water areas in Nottingham and Leicester, Cambridge, London and the Isle of Wight over the next year to determine if use of ion-exchange water softeners is an effective treatment for childhood eczema.
The Soft Water Eczema Trial (SWET) is based on positive findings of a 7,000-child epidemiologic study reported a year ago. The earlier study confirmed the contention of families of eczema sufferers and some doctors that living in a hard water area may make eczema worse. The theory is that hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, leading to increased use of soaps which can act as skin irritants.
The new trial will soften all household water except that for drinking. Principal investigator, professor Hywel Williams explained in the University's news release:
“I have wanted to do this study for many years as patients keep telling me that water softeners help their skin, but other people aren't so sure. Carrying out a proper randomised controlled trial will help us find the answer. If ion-exchange water softeners are found to improve the symptoms of eczema, this will be an extremely important finding for both patients and doctors. Many patients worry about the possible side effects of the usual treatments for eczema, so this would be a welcome addition to their treatment options.”
The news release underscored the importance of the research:
Up to one fifth of all children of school age have eczema, along with about one in twelve of the adult population. The severity of the disease can vary. In mild forms the skin is dry, red and itchy, whist in more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. Eczema is not contagious and with treatment the inflammation of eczema can be reduced, though the skin will always be sensitive to flare-ups and need extra care and protection against dryness.