Eczema Focus Group
This Focus Group has been formed to study the effects of softened water on eczema, especially childhood eczema. It is the industry forum for input to an NHS funded clinical trial.
Scientists are currently running a clinical trial to see if eczema in children can be improved by deliberately softening all water used in the home. The Softened Water Eczema Trial (SWET) is the first large randomised clinical trial in the world to test this. The trial is being run by Professor Hywel Williams and his research team at the Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology at the University of Nottingham, and is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Programme.
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. For further information on Eczema and its treatment go to the National Eczema Society.
For further information contact Dr Ian Pallett, Technical Director.
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