Softened Water Eczema Trial

What is the study about?

The aim of this 3-year study is to see if eczema can be improved by deliberately softening all the water used in the home (except at one tap in the kitchen which will supply mains water for drinking).

What will happen?

The study is recruiting 310 children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years who have moderate to severe eczema, and who live in hard water areas in Nottingham/Leicester, North London, Cambridge and the Isle of Wight. Each child will be in the study for 16 weeks.  All of the homes where the children live will have a water softener installed for either 4 weeks or 12 weeks. During the 16 week study period the child’s eczema is assessed at regular hospital clinic visits (4 in total). 

How can I get involved?

For further information please go to the study website at www.swet-trial.co.uk

Researchers

The study is being led by Professor Hywel Williams and his research team at the Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with a team of water softener manufacturers led by the UK Water Treatment Association.

Funding

The study is supported by a grant from the Department of Health’s NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme.