A recently published study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that “hard,” mineral-laden water may increase the risk of a baby getting the skin condition eczema. The study included 1,300 3-month old infants Researchers checked hardness — the water’s mineral content — and chlorine levels in the water supply where the babies lived. Babies who lived in areas with hard water were up to 87 percent more likely to have eczema, the study found. Previous studies have found an association between water hardness and eczema risk in schoolchildren.
