A 6-month parallel group assessor-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial of an ion-exchange water softener for the prevention of eczema in neonates, with an embedded mechanistic study.~The overall rationale is that by installing a domestic water softener around the time of birth, the infant will be exposed to softened water rather than hard water for bathing and that this will be less irritating to the skin than hard water and so associated with a lower risk of eczema development. The primary objective is to determine the feasibility of conducting a subsequent definitive RCT that will investigate whether installation of a domestic water softener around the time of birth can prevent eczema in high-risk babies. The secondary objective is to explore the likely mechanisms by which water softeners might prevent eczema.
An outcome assessor-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial of an ion-exchange water softener for the prevention of atopic eczema in neonates, with an embedded mechanistic study