Atopic Dermatitis Bathing Tips
Posted on: 27 August 2020
If you have a case of atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, then you may be frustrated by the way that your skin looks and feels. In this case, you may want to bathe in a certain way to make sure that your skin remains as healthy as it can. Keep reading to learn about some ways you can bathe to help your skin.
Use A Disinfectant
People who have eczema are more prone to skin infections. Simply put, during an eczema flare, the skin's outer epidermis is broken. This portion of the skin is a protective layer that keeps bacteria and other microorganisms from infiltrating your body. Once the skin is broken, the bacteria have access to the tissues and an infection can develop. So, you want to try to prevent infections from occurring as much as you can.
One of the easiest infection prevention tactics involves bathing with a disinfectant. Bleach can work for this. Measure around one-quarter cup of household bleach and pour it into a full bath of water.
After adding the disinfectant, soak in the bathtub for about 10 or 15 minutes. Towel dry afterward by gently blotting the skin with a clean and dry towel. Do not reuse towels as bacteria do thrive in damp and wet environments. Also, you should limit your bleach baths to a only few times a week. This will protect you skin and keep you from drying out the skin too much.
Use Warm Water
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when bathing skin affected by eczema is to use water that is too hot. Hot water strips the oils from the skins, and this can further dry it out and irritate it. This can create a situation where eczema is able to worsen and skin may start to peel, crack, or bleed more significantly.
Because of this, you want to make sure that you are using warm water to bathe. In addition, showers should be quick and only about 10 to 15 minutes in length. If this does not leave you feeling clean, then think about taking multiple showers or baths. This type of bathing schedule is much healthier for the skin than one long shower.
Once your shower is over, you want to lock in as much of the moisture as you can. Use a water-based skin lotion or cream immediately after getting out of the shower.
For more atopic dermatitis information, talk to your doctor or dermatologist.
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