DIY Eczema Baths and Wet Wraps

Baths wash away dead cells and bacteria, which helps relieve itch. They also hydrate skin, and that can ward off scratching, too. But because eczema limits your skin’s ability to be a healthy barrier, it’s important to follow a bath with moisturizer. This keeps water in and helps keep germs and irritants out.

Bathing or showering once a day is best. As for water temp, play by the Goldilocks rule: not too hot and not too cold. Go for lukewarm water. Use a gentle cleanser and don’t scrub. If you’re in a flare, skip the cleansers and rinse with water only. Always moisturize within 3 minutes of patting dry.

A small amount of bleach diluted into a warm bath can help kill itch-inducing bacteria on the skin. Use a quarter-cup of bleach per 40 gallons of warm water, and soak from the neck down. Pat dry. Don’t overdo it. Take a bleach bath no more than three times a week.

Colloidal oatmeal is a powder made from finely ground and specially prepared oatmeal. You can find it in the health and beauty section of drugstores. Add the powder to a lukewarm bath and soak for 10 minutes to relieve itch and dryness.

As long as you choose oils free from fragrance or other irritants, adding a gentle bath oil can help hydrate and protect skin.

When you’re in the middle of a bad flare, a saltwater bath can take the sting away. Pour a cup into your warm bath water before soaking.

It sounds stinky, but vinegar may kill some of the itch-causing bacteria on your skin. Add between a cup and a pint of white vinegar to your bath.

Wet wraps keep your skin moist and make your medication work better. This helps cool and soothe itching. They’re best right after you’ve had a bath and applied your medication. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the best methods before trying.

Wet wraps are dressings you make from a cloth. After you’ve applied your topical medication, soak the cloth in water and wrap it around the medicated area. Put a dry cover over it to keep the wrap wet.

Cotton works well for wet wraps. Choose options that make sense for the area, such as socks for feet, gloves for hands, or washcloths for legs. For the dry layer, you can simply put clothes on over the area, or seal in moisture with plastic wrap or vinyl gloves.