Open questions — water-therapies (round 1)

  • In toddlers with moderate eczema, does a measured bleach bath add anything over the same plain-water soak followed by immediate emollient, when both arms control for moisturiser use? (Chopra 2017 noted trials rarely controlled for this.)
  • Is there a safe, standard bleach dilution for toddler and baby tubs? AAD and Children’s Mercy differ about twofold, and parents report dosing by “splash” or “capful”.
  • Would softening water at birth prevent eczema in high-risk (e.g. filaggrin-mutation) babies, as the SOFTER pilot is testing, even though SWET showed no treatment effect?
  • Is twice-daily soak-and-seal bathing sustainable and beneficial beyond 2 weeks in toddlers, and does it work for mild eczema?