Eczema and Baths

Severe eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that causes rashes, dry skin and itching. The itching can lead to numerous open sores and scratches. These sores can cause discomfort , and even pain, when submerged in the water.

Baths are important to eczema sufferers for several reasons, in spite of the discomfort the water can cause. They add moisture back to dry skin and reduce the bacteria on the skin that can cause further itching and flare ups, according to a study done in 2006 and published on WebMD in 2009.

Because my daughter has severe eczema, we have tried many products and tricks to make bath time easier and less painful for her. Here are a few of the things that work best for us, and some suggestions that have worked for other eczema sufferers.

1. Bleach Baths

The 2006 WebMD study showed that using small amounts of bleach in a bath can reduce bacteria on the skin, which can remove one trigger of an eczema flare up. Bleach baths, used once or twice a week, can keep recurring staph infections at bay for my daughter.

2. Short, Lukewarm Baths

Bath time is thorough, but short at our house. We attempt to keep baths to a 10 minute time limit. The point is to avoid that "pruny" effect from lounging in the tub too long. Also, the water temperature is as cool as comfortably possible. Hot water only increases the drying effects of water.

3. Mild Shampoos and Body Washes

Sensitive skin products are a must for my daughter's skin. Even if a shampoo or body wash is labeled for sensitive skin, we still read carefully for any ingredients, and we always do the sniff test. If there is anything that smells like an added fragrance of perfume, we do not use it.

Dandruff shampoo can be helpful for her scalp eczema, but we have found that continued use over a long time can be too drying. Head & Shoulders basic dandruff shampoo works well. Stronger shampoos such as Neutrogena T-Sal work for severe scalp dryness, but can be too strong for every day use.

Cetaphil body wash is the mildest body wash we have found that does not cause more dryness. Even with a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil, we do not use the product on a daily basis. Plain water can usually wash off the bulk of the day's grime.

4. Bath Add Ins

There are many bath additives on the market, and although we've had little success with them, other eczema sufferers have claimed that a good soak can bring relief for up to 24 hours.

We have tried Aveeno Skin Relief Bath Treatment. It did not do any harm, but it did not seem to provide any extra relief, either. We have also tried Aveeno Stress Relief Foaming Bath. This product contained too many fragrances to work well for eczema.

5. After Bath Care

What happens after the bath is as important to helping eczema skin, as what happens in the bath. We have used many products, but find the most success with simple creams or lotions. Equate Dry Skin Cream works well to hold in moisture and is priced very well. Applied immediately after a bath, this cream can bring relief for several hours.

Other products for after the bath include mineral oil, applied topically. This oil increases the suppleness of the skin, but it can create big messes around the house.

Many eczema sufferers and several of our doctors have recommended Aquaphor Healing Ointment to us. Ointment can hold moisture in better because it is heavier than creams. However, Aquaphor has not worked well for us. It seems to irritate my daughter's skin further, and can be as messy as mineral oil.

Although it can be painful, bath time is important to help manage my daughter's eczema. Baths increase the moisture on her skin, remove irritants from the day, and can reduce bacteria on her skin. They are not simple or straightforward as they are with a non-eczema sufferer, but they are worth the trouble.