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. 2021 Jun 2;16(6):e0252462.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252462. eCollection 2021.

The association between water hardness and xerosis-Results from the Danish Blood Donor Study

Mattias A S Henning  1 , Kristina S Ibler  1 , Henrik Ullum  2 , Christian Erikstrup  3 , Mie T Bruun  4 , Kristoffer S Burgdorf  2 , Khoa M Dinh  3 , Andreas Rigas  2 , Lise W Thørner  2 , Ole B Pedersen  5 , Gregor B Jemec  1
Affiliations

The association between water hardness and xerosis-Results from the Danish Blood Donor Study

Mattias A S Henning et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The pathophysiology of xerosis depends on extrinsic and intrinsic exposures. Residential hard water may constitute such an exposure.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of xerosis and to compare water hardness exposure in blood donors with and without xerosis.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study in 2018-2019, blood donors with self-reported moderately or severely dry skin were compared to blood donors without dry skin. Blood donors with ichthyosis, lichen planus and psoriasis were excluded. Water hardness data was collected from the Geology Survey of Denmark and Greenland.

Results: Overall, 4,748 of 30,721 (15.5%; 95% confidence interval 15.1-15.9%) blood donors had xerosis. After excluding blood donors with ichthyosis, lichen planus and psoriasis, 4,416 blood donors (2,559 females; median age 38.4 years [interquartile range 28.0-49.8]; 700 smokers) remained in this study. Water softer than 12-24 degrees Deutsche härte was associated with decreased probability of xerosis (odds ratio 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.74-0.94) and water harder than 12-24 degrees Deutsche härte was associated with increased probability of xerosis (odds ratio 1.22; 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.45). The association between water hardness and xerosis remained significant after excluding blood donors with dermatitis.

Conclusions: Water hardness is associated with xerosis independent of other dermatoses.

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Conflict of interest statement

This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests. Dr. Henning reports grants from Leo Foundation, Denmark (number LF 18002), during the conduct of the study. Dr. Ibler reports personal fees from Leo Farma, Sanofi, Astra Zeneca and Astma-Allergi Danmark. Dr. Ullum has nothing to disclose. Dr. Erikstrup has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bruun has nothing to disclose. Dr. Burgdorf has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dinh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rigas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thørner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pedersen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jemec reports grants and personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Coloplast, personal fees from Chemocentryx, personal fees from LEO pharma, grants from LEO Foundation, grants from Afyx, personal fees from Incyte, grants and personal fees from InflaRx, grants from Janssen-Cilag, grants and personal fees from Novartis, grants and personal fees from UCB, grants from CSL Behring, grants from Regeneron, grants from Sanofi, personal fees from Kymera, personal fees from VielaBio, outside the submitted work.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flowchart depicting the process of inclusions and exclusions.
DBDS, Danish Blood Donor Study; ICD-10, International Classification of Disease-10; n, Study population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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