50 babies in the UK will be enrolled in a new clinical aimed at preventing children from developing food allergies.
The SEAL (Stopping Eczema and ALlergy) clinical trial, led by academics at King's and Evelina London Children's Hospital, is available for babies aged from birth to 12 weeks if they have any signs of dry skin or eczema.
Joint trial lead Professor Helen Brough, Reader at King's and joint head of paediatric allergy at Evelina London, said: "We have known for years that eczema is the strongest risk factor for developing a food allergy. In the SEAL study, we can evaluate whether we can target the skin of children with eczema to prevent a food allergy. We're pleased to be opening this new clinical trial, and hope it will make a difference for the next generation."
Previous research has shown that if a baby develops eczema before the age of three months and needs to use prescribed steroids on the skin, they are 50% more likely to develop an allergy to peanut, sesame or egg as a child.
The SEAL trial aims to prevent children from developing a food allergy by restoring the skin barrier and managing inflammation. It's hoped this will prevent the transfer of food allergens through the skin.
Trial participants will be recruited onto one of two treatment strategies. In both groups, babies will be treated with a moisturiser twice daily. However, in the first treatment strategy, the standard of care steroid treatment is only used during a flare-up of eczema. This is compared to a continuous use of the steroid treatment, even when the skin is clear of active eczema.
Each participant will be on the trial for two years, and during that time will be reviewed by the clinical team three times at Evelina London's specialist allergy research centre. Participants will also be followed-up for food allergy testing annually until the age of two years, and take part in oral food challenges at the final visit.
There is growing evidence that a defective skin barrier in babies manifesting as dry skin or eczema is the gateway to developing food allergies, respiratory allergies, and asthma.
Professor Gideon Lack, Professor of Paediatric Allergy and joint trial lead
He added: "By targeting and treating the skin very early on life in babies with dry skin or eczema, we have the potential to substantially prevent subsequent allergies and halt what has become a public health epidemic."
The SEAL (Stopping Eczema and ALlergy) clinical trial is led by Harvard University, with four trial sites across America. In total, 312 babies will be recruited across trial sites. It is funded by the National Institutes of Health in America and Evelina London will be the only trial site in the UK for participants.
