People with eczema have long wondered whether frequent baths or showers can irritate their already sensitive skin. But new research suggests that people with eczema can bathe as often as they want.
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“You have freedom to choose how often you bathe — daily or weekly — without worrying that one option will make your eczema worse,” says Tanya Evans, MD, a dermatologist who wasn’t involved in the new study. Dr. Evans serves as the medical director of the Skin Cancer Program at Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California.
Eczema is a catchall term for a number of chronic conditions (the most common being atopic dermatitis) that can make skin inflamed, discolored, dry, and itchy. While eczema mostly impacts children, adults can have it, too.
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Here’s what the study discovered, plus what it means for people living with eczema.
Study Focused on Feedback From Patients
Researchers from the University of Nottingham and its affiliated hospital created the “Eczema Bathing Study” with significant input from people living with eczema.
The scientists randomly split more than 400 volunteers with eczema into two groups: One that bathed daily, and one that bathed weekly. Daily bathing meant having a bath or shower six or more times a week, while weekly bathers had a bath or shower once or twice a week.
After four weeks, the researchers found no difference in eczema symptoms between the two groups.
Messaging About Bathing and Eczema Has Been Mixed
There is some confusing messaging floating around about bathing when you have eczema, but dermatologists say the latest research is supported by other studies.
One randomized study published in 2020 pointed out that parents of children with eczema often receive “conflicting information, leading to frustration and confusion” around bathing.
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Why the mixed messaging? “Historically, the concern with frequent bathing has been that it may increase a process called transepidermal water loss (TEWL), worsening skin dryness and leading to more flares,” says Oyetewa Asempa, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston who was not involved in the new study. Transepidermal water loss occurs when moisture decreases as water evaporates from the surface of damp skin.
“However, multiple studies have shown that daily bathing does not increase the risk of flares, particularly if you apply a moisturizer right after you get out of the bath or shower.”
Case in point: That 2020 trial found that kids who took 15- to 20-minute baths twice a day, followed by moisturizer, had less severe eczema symptoms than those who bathed twice a week.
Evans says the latest findings are “somewhat surprising, because many guidelines have leaned toward less-frequent bathing to avoid skin dryness.”
But she says they still make sense. “As long as people use their regular eczema treatments and moisturize properly afterward, the frequency of bathing itself may not matter. This result highlights that comfort and consistency in skin care are more important than rigid rules about how often to bathe.”
The Study Has a Few Limitations
Because the study only followed patients for four weeks, it’s unclear how daily bathing might affect people with eczema long-term. “Results may also differ over longer periods or in different climates,” Evans says. Seasonal changes may play a role, too, she says. “Winter air is drier, and people might experience more irritation then,” she says.
Other factors like the humidity level in your home, the hardness of your water, and your skin biology matter, too, Dr. Asempa says. “For example, Black patients may experience higher transepidermal water loss because of differences in the skin’s structure,” she says. “These differences can affect how skin responds to frequent bathing.”
Regular Moisturizing Is Crucial for Eczema
Evans stresses that people with eczema can bathe as often as they want, based on what feels comfortable. “The key is how they bathe,” she says. Evans recommends the following strategies:
- Use lukewarm (not hot) water.
- Limit time in the bath or shower to 10 or 15 minutes.
- Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers.
- Moisturize immediately after bathing while the skin is still slightly damp to seal in moisture.
The specific type of moisturizer — cream, lotion, or ointment — ultimately depends on what you’re able to use comfortably and consistently, Asempa says.
“Just focus on gentle cleansing and keeping your skin hydrated. That is what helps keep eczema under control and your skin feeling comfortable.”
