Preventing eczema-related allergies by strengthening infants' skin barrier
Official title: SEAL (Stopping Atopic dermatitis and ALlergy) Study: Prevent allergy by enhancing the skin barrier
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11418544 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see if using a trilipid skin cream plus proactive mild topical steroids in infants with early dry skin or eczema lowers their chances of developing food allergies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $150,239 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI147462-06S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418544 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are infants identified within the first 10 weeks of life who have early dry skin or signs of eczema but have not yet developed food allergies.
✕Less likely to help
Infants who already have diagnosed food allergies, older children beyond the early infant window, or babies without dry skin or eczema are unlikely to benefit from this prevention approach.
What this research studies
If your baby shows dry skin or early eczema within the first 10 weeks, this trial would enroll them and randomly assign them to either proactive skin care or usual reactive care. Proactive care includes regular use of a trilipid emollient and planned short courses of mild topical steroids to prevent flares, while the comparison group receives standard reactive treatment when problems arise. About 750 infants will be followed over time with regular skin checks, allergy testing, and tracking of any diagnosed food allergies. The team aims to see whether reducing eczema severity and duration prevents allergen sensitization through the skin and lowers later food allergy rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce the number of infants who develop food allergies by preventing allergen sensitization through damaged skin.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials like LEAP and EAT showed early oral exposure can prevent peanut allergy, while prior emollient-based eczema prevention trials have had mixed results, so this combined proactive skin-plus-steroid approach builds on promising but not settled evidence.
Where this research is happening
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Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nadeau, Kari C. — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Nadeau, Kari C.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stopping Atopic Dermatitis and Allergy: Preventing Food Allergy by Protecting the Skin
A large study in infants at high risk for allergies tests whether using a skin barrier cream together with early, proactive skin care can prevent peanut allergy and other food allergies.
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SEAL Study: Preventing peanut allergy by protecting baby skin
This trial tests whether using a skin-emollient and proactive skin steroids early in life can prevent peanut allergy in high-risk infants.
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SEAL Study: Prevent allergy by protecting the baby’s skin
A very young group of high-risk babies will try a early skin-care plan to reduce eczema and prevent peanut allergy.
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SEAL: Stopping eczema and allergy by protecting the skin in infants
A large clinical study in early infancy tests whether using a skin barrier cream together with a gentle anti-inflammatory cream can reduce the chance of developing food allergies.
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Preventing food allergies by protecting babies' skin
This trial tests whether starting a trilipid moisturizer plus early gentle topical steroids for babies with dry skin or early eczema can lower their chance of developing food allergies.
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Preventing food allergy by strengthening babies' skin barrier
See if giving a trilipid emollient plus proactive topical steroid treatment to infants with very early dry skin or eczema can lower their chance of developing food allergies.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.