Daily bathing and moisturizing for kids with eczema
A team of US researchers looked at current available medical evidence to try to settle the ongoing debate about whether kids with eczema should bathe every day or not.
Some experts have said that infrequent washing might be better because too much washing can cause the skin to dry. But a team of researchers say that if a child has eczema, it is fine to wash them every day, as long as parents avoid too much soap and apply lots of moisturizing emollient cream to their skin afterwards. Bathing can remove surface dirt, irritants and allergens.
UK experts also agree but they do point out that there hasn’t been a great deal of research in this area and more studies would be helpful.
A caveat to the daily bath advice is to “smear”, meaning slap on plenty of moisturizing lotion after the bath to seal in the moisture, after gentle pat drying.
The researchers explain in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology that applying specially-designed moisturizer immediately afterwards keeps the skin soft and moist, which will help avoid problems such as infections and dry, cracked skin.
But parents are also encouraged to use their own judgement as well. If daily bathing doesn’t appear to help their child’s eczema, or they would rather not do it, they can switch to less frequent baths or showers. If their child’s condition gets worse, they should seek a doctor’s advice.
Amena Warner of Allergy UK says that daily baths should only last for a maximum of about 10 minutes so as not to overdo it.”Once you get out of the bath pat yourself dry with a towel and moisturise instantly. This can help stop the itch and scratch cycle.”
Dr. Carsten Flohr, an expert at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital and the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, has been studying the effects of frequent bathing on skin barrier function. He said daily bathing or washing every other day was fine, but soap, bubble baths and shower gels could irritate the skin and make eczema worse in some people.
It is advised to use lukewarm water for bathing as it is more soothing than hot water, which can sting.Avoid harshsoaps, instead use “sparing” amounts of a pH balanced skin cleanser. Do not scrub the skin clean but just wash it gently. Towel dry by gently patting. Apply emollient immediately after drying. Emollients are not the same as cosmetic moisturizers and are designed to be used for skin conditions, such as eczema.
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