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ECZEMA
– A GROWING PROBLEM
If you or your child suffers from
eczema, you’re not alone. Around one in five* children and one in twelve
adults are afflicted by this distressing skin condition and it is becoming
more common. And while many children do grow out of eczema by adulthood,
they may still suffer several years of this uncomfortable complaint.
What
causes eczema?
There is no single
cause of eczema. Doctors believe it arises from a mix of hereditary and
environmental factors, of which hard water is one. One theory is that the
chlorine added to protect our drinking water and the hardness minerals
contained in the hard water causes dryness and irritation. Because of
this, hard water households use more soap and detergent - products we know
inflame the skin of eczema sufferers.
Could
switching to softened water help?
More than 60% of
households are located in hard water areas in England and Wales. Research
carried out at the University of Nottingham**
by dermatologists, medical geographers and statisticians in 1998 indicated
that hard water could play a part in causing eczema flare-ups in some
children.
The
study, involving more than 7,500 school age children, found that eczema is
around 50% more common in primary schoolchildren living in hard water
areas than those who live in soft water areas. This could not be
attributed to differences in age or social class.
*Source:
National Eczema Society 2001.
**Source: Professor Hywel Williams,
University of Nottingham, August 1998
Kinetico
UK are participating in a clinical trial to investigate whether water
softeners help reduce the severity of eczema in children. The trial, led
by Professor Hywel Williams and Dr Kim Thomas of the Centre of Evidence
Based Dermatology at the University of Nottingham, will run from Spring
2007 to Autumn 2009 and will involve more than 310 children with moderate
to severe eczema from across four hard water regions in England.
For further information visit :
www.swet-trial.co.uk www.eczema.org
There
is already overwhelming anecdotal evidence to suggest that skin conditions
like eczema and psoriasis are aggravated by hard water. Many sufferers
have experienced immediate relief on installing a water softener and feel
that this is more than just coincidence.
“The effect on my daughter’s skin was almost immediate. Within two
weeks of installing the water softener, the red patches had virtually
disappeared. At its worst, her eczema would resemble burns but now there
is no redness at all and her skin is soft and smooth.” Mrs H. Aylesbury,
whose two-year old daughter has suffered from eczema since birth.
Increasing
numbers of adults, concerned about the use of steroid creams on their
children’s delicate skin as well as their own, are exploring the
possibility of water softeners as a less harmful, non-invasive treatment
option.
So
why can a water softener help reduce the symptoms of eczema? Due to the
complexity of eczema, it is impossible to quantify why exactly softened
water helps the condition. However, British Water advises that there are
enough successful reports to suggest the following:
-
water softeners eliminate scummy soap curd and result in a clean lather
which is kind to skin, reducing dryness and itching
-
with softened water, the amount of soap used when washing clothes can be
greatly reduced. Also pure soap products can be used with softened water
in preference to detergent
If
you would like to find out more about the health and other benefits of
installing a water softener, call 01322
550878 for a no
obligation meeting with an authorised Kinetico representative.
Softened Water Eczema
Field Trial (SWET) Update
See the following links for more information:
Download SWET Issue 1 (2007),
Press Release from Nottingham University,
BBC
News article
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