Your Stories - Bathing

Milk Baths helped soothe my daughter - Kathy, New Jersey, USA

Along with what the doctors told me I would give my oldest daughter milk baths. I would add one envelope of powdered milk to her bath and let her soak for a few minutes. This would soothe her. (July 2008) Contact Kathy

Adding Salt to the Bath - Sylvia, London, UK

Hi, just wanted to add my tip for an all over body outburst. Sometimes I just get a huge attack, still searching what triggers it, but I noticed that my skin is always much better when on holiday because of the sea and sun etc. Well in England, we are never really going to have the sun, but I have taken to bringing the sea to my bath, by simply adding salt. It really can clear things up quickly, I'm guessing from the anti-bacterial effect. Just remember to moisturize well after. Oh and it can sting, but I just think that it's doing me good, and well it stings when I go in the sea... (June 2008) Contact Sylvia

Don't Bathe Less - H Stout, Baltimore, USA

It is infuriating to read that so many mothers are told by their doctors that, to combat eczema, children should be bathed less. Little ones have to be able to play and get dirty and then get it all washed off at night. My 7-year-old daughter has struggled since infancy with eczema and we have finally found the biggest culprit to be not THE BATH but THE CHLORINE in the bath. Another mother suggested I install a chlorine filter on the bathtub and my child is considerably better. This revelation has come after seven years of doctors giving quick & easy fixes -- potentially harmful steroids, antihistamines, antibiotics -- rather than thinking to suggest a chlorine filter.
(February 2008)

Seaweed - Ruth, Newcastle, UK

my son developed eczema at a very young age. We tried everything but could not get to the root cause. GP was not very sympathetic and had to work on our own to find a cause and cure. By chance our son was allergy tested because of his asthma. Identified possible triggers to his asthma and eczema. Decided to try elimination diet, even sent his hair off to be analysed, you get so desperate when your son is scratching himself red raw every night! He was finally allergy tested after bad reaction to a yogurt being reintroduced into his diet. Found he was allergic to milk, eggs, nuts and cats. Avoided these skin improved but still problem. Then one rainy day in Bakewell discovered the answer to all my prayers!!!! In a corner of a craft fair a stand selling aalgo. This is a dried seaweed product that you add to the bath. It smells and looks disgusting and took a lot of persuading to get my son in the bath! But I can honestly say that this has had dramatic results to my son's skin. You can feel the difference it is no longer dry but feels normal, we do not put a heavy emollient on his body twice a day but aqueous cream is enough. The scratching and redness has gone and he is a different child. I cannot recommend this strongly enough and it is mild enough that even babies can use it. Please ignore the smell and give it a try!! (March 2007)

Bathing helps my eczema - Kate, Rhode Island, USA

I know each person is different, but with eczema, I physically can't go 24 hours without a shower. I am 24 years old and was home hospitalized in 3rd grade and spent weeks in the hospital in 5th and 8th grades. They put me in 4 Aveeno Baths a day, immediately followed by steroids and Aquaphor. And a few times being wrapped with saran wrap! (it helps a lot, I still do it to my feet!) When I went in I couldn't turn my neck due to cracking and pussing, with this I was clear in 4 days. So bathing the right way is the remedy for severe eczema. Whenever I get a bad flare-up I use this. (November 2005) Contact Kate

Take a bread soda bath! - Lorna, Dublin, Ireland

I have been suffering with eczema since I was born, and 25 years on still am. I find that during the summer months my skin becomes tight and extremely itchy, summer seems to be the worst season for me. I have tried and tested numerous potions and lotions and no matter what I use I'm still extremely itchy. When someone suggested running a bath and putting some bread soda in, I thought crazy but worth giving it a go. To my surprise it worked wonders, got rid of the itch totally and the the redness. I now take a bread soda bath once a week and even though I still get flare ups the bath eliminates the prolonged agony! (August 2005) Contact Lorna

Bathing too much doesn't make eczema worse! - Katy, Littleton, USA

My 7 yr. old son has had eczema since infancy and we have tried everything. In the last 3 years his skin has become so out of control, we were afraid to take him out of the house because people constantly asked him if he was sick (his upper lip and around his eyes were always bright red and cut). Recently we were blessed with a referral to the National Jewish Hospital where they explained that the old myth of bathing too much was not true. We had been told by all of our previous doc's to only bathe him every other day. They explained that soaking every day for 20 min. helps get the moisture in as long as you make sure to apply moisturizers WITHIN 3 MIN OF GETTING OUT! Use a wet towel on the face to get it nice and saturated while soaking. We also decided to give Protopic another try, we had used it before and saw little improvement. This combination really works!!!!!! For all parents out there, don't give up!!!!! (June 2005) Contact Katy

Avoid Long Showers - Sue, Winnipeg, Canada

Taking showers regularly can be good for our skin, but I noticed when I take a long shower, my whole body starts to itch like crazy. I went to see a dermatologist, and he suggested that I should take no more than 3 mins. Taking a nice hot shower for too long will eventually dry out your skin and will make the itch worse. For those of you who don't know, shower in lukewarm water (not too hot), and take it as fast as you can. I believe that little things like these can help maintain your itching problems. (April 2005) Contact Sue

Vinegar and Bath Oil - Mrs Greatbatch, Bristol, UK

DON'T WANT STEROIDS OR CREAMS? TRY THIS EASY REMEDY!! My young daughter has eczema and my experience is through her. It took us 2 yeras of her life to find out that she has food intolerance that cause her eczema, and now because of this we mostly have it under control. However when she does come into contact and react it used to cause her sore and bleeding skin for up to a month afterwards, using all the creams and ointment we could to try and help her. BUT now her reaction can be healed within ONE week - How well it is simply a case of putting into her nightly bath 1 desert spoonful of vinegar and 1 desert spoonful of bath oil at the same time. It seems that this settles the skins PH balance and thus stops the itching. The difference in her is amazing. (September 2004)

Salt Baths - Martin, Northampton, UK

Hi. I read with interest the story by Nicole about the sea water pool and its effects on her sons eczema. I can also vouch for the properties of sea water. 10 days ago we went on holiday, not Spain, but the East coast in the UK. I stress the location as some would say that climate is a factor as well. My daughter who is 3, loves paddling in the sea. Her first dip resulted in mild stinging from the sea water, however after that and over a period of only 7 days her skin was virtually clear of all rashes and sores and her bouts of scratching had all but stopped. On return, 3 days and 1 tap water bath later her skin is blotchy and red, and she is itching head to toe again. It would appear that sea water may indeed have mild antiseptic properties which in my daughters case improved her condition in a way that none of her prescribed creams have come close to matching. We now hope to try and duplicate this at home. One "recipe" we have found for bathtime is 10 - 20 fl.oz of sea salt per 3 Gallons of water maybe twice a week. The only problem with this is that it will not be pure sea water as we need to mix the sea salt with tap water. This introduces certain addition properties to the water that may or may not effect the overall result. Definitely worth a try though. (September 2004)

Bath Salts - Nicole, Bexley, UK

My 8 year old son has had bad eczema nearly all his life. This year when we went on holiday to Spain the pool at the hotel was salt water. We were a bit worried that this would make his eczema worse, but throughout the holiday his skin got better and better. When we got home I bought some sea salt bathing crystals which I add to his bath. Although he still has eczema his skin is alot better and softer. It might be worth giving this a try. The bath salts only cost £2 from the local health food shop. Good luck! (August 2004)

Aveeno baths - Anne, New York, USA

My last eczema flare-up was really bad from December to March 2004, and for some reason, it was only on my arms. My scratching was so terrible that I would dig my fingernails into my arms to hurt myself and divert attention from the itchiness. I ended up with half-moon scars and white marks on my arms. I found great relief after seeing an allergist in April who not only recommended an allergy test (I found out I am allergic to cat/dog hair, dust mites, certain tree pollen), but also soaking myself for 15 to 30 minutes each day in a bath with Aveeno natural colloidal oatmeal, patting myself dry afterward and sealing the moisture in with Aquaphor (better than Eucerin, although they come from the same pharma company). At the start, my arms stung when I immersed in the bath because my eczema was raw, but in three days, I saw the difference, my eczema dried up, and my skin became softer and smoother than it's ever been. Best of all, I have stopped scratching every night and can sleep uninterrupted without having to take hydroxizine. It sounds vain, but I am so happy too that I can wear my sleeveless blouses again and expose my arms now that warmer weather is coming. There's some hyperpigmentation, but I do know that it goes away, and I don't mind it at all since my skin is so soft and smooth now, as if nothing happened. I get occasional itchy spots but they are tolerable, and the doctor prescribed Lidamantle lotion which stops the itch. I also use Protopic occasionally, and Protopic has been a big help too! I highly recommend doing an Aveeno bath daily and moisturizing with aquaphor. (May 2004)

Shower regulalry etc - Sprog, Leighton Buzzard, UK

I am 12, and have had eczema for as long as I can remember, I also have asthma so I personally believe the two are linked. I find it helps greatly if you have a shower every day; it helps remove dead skin cells & refresh and rehydrate your skin. Always try and have a good supply of your medication so you don't run out as I often find myself doing! Apart from that, try to keep yourself busy so you do not absent-mindedly scratch; remember there is always hope!!!!! (April 2004)

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Page updated: 7 July 2008