Scientists say tap water could lead to eczema

THE water that comes out of taps in Hinckley and Bosworth damages the skin and could contribute to the development of eczema, a new study has shown.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield and King’s College London have discovered that exposing the skin to hard water damages the skin barrier – the body’s defence against outside threats such as bacteria or sun burn – and increases the sensitivity of the skin to potential irritants found in everyday wash products such as soap or washing powder.

Hinckley’s water, supplied by Coventry-based Severn Trent, is classed as between slightly hard and very hard.

Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium ions that bind to surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) – which act as detergents or wetting agents – making them insoluble, so they precipitate onto the skin.

Skin pH is normally acidic but hard water has high alkalinity which means it can raise the skin surface pH.

A shift towards alkaline pH disturbs the skin’s natural function as a physical barrier and leaves it prone to colonisation by potentially pathogenic bacteria which can cause infection.

Lead author of the study, Dr Simon Danby from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, said: “By damaging the skin barrier, washing with hard water may contribute to the development of eczema – a chronic skin condition characterised by an intensely itchy red rash.

“Patients with eczema are much more sensitive to the effects of hard water than people with healthy skin.

“This increase in sensitivity is associated with a genetic predisposition to a skin barrier defect brought about by mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin.

“Filaggrin is a structural protein important for the formation of our skin’s barrier to the outside envi- ronment. Up to half of all people with eczema carry a filaggrin gene.”

He said: “This new study reveals the mechanism by which calcium and magnesium ions in hard water, surfactants, and filaggrin interact to damage the skin barrier unlocking new information about how exposure to hard water could potentially contribute to the development of eczema.”

The new study, which was funded by Harvey Water Softeners, is published in the Journal of Investigate Dermatology.

The team of researchers examined whether removing the calcium and magnesium ions using an ionexchange water softener could mitigate the negative effects of hard water on the skin.

They found that using a water softener reduces the harmful effects of surfactants, potentially decreasing the risk of developing eczema.

Co-senior author of the study, Dr Carsten Flohr from the St John’s Institute of Dermatology at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London, said: “One in five children and one in 12 adults in the UK suffer from eczema, costing the NHS well over £500 million annually.

“It is during the first few days and months of life that our skin is most susceptible to damage and most at risk of developing eczema.

“For that reason we are now embarking on a pilot trial to investigate whether installation of a domestic water softener around the time of birth can prevent skin barrier breakdown and eczema in those living in hard water areas.”

Symptoms of eczema, also called ‘atopic eczema’ or ‘atopic dermatitis’, include inflamed, dry skin and often secondary skin infections, which can affect any part of the body and every aspect of a person’s life – both physically and emotionally.

A survey of 305 people with severe eczema performed by Allergy UK revealed that more than 70 per cent reported feeling depressed, 73 per cent reported difficulties with self-esteem, and 58 per cent said that it impacts their personal relationships.

In addition, 73 per cent of respondents stated that their severe eczema impacted negatively on their social life, with six in 10 stating that it made them want to stay indoors.

The average number of sick days taken per person in the UK is 6.5 a year.

Results from the Allergy UK survey suggested that 24 per cent of people with severe eczema miss more than six days a year due to their condition alone and 15 per cent reported taking more than 16 days off a year.

Rainwater is naturally soft, but as it makes its way through the ground and rocks and into the waterways, and eventually to our taps, it picks up dissolved compounds such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals are hard to filter out when being turned into tap water in water-treatment plants, meaning the type of rocks found in any given location determines how hard or soft the water will be.

A spokesman for the water firm, whose HQ is in Coventry, said: “Hardness of water depends on where the supply comes from but it’s all treated in exactly the same way to make sure that it’s of an extremely high standard for all of our customers.”