Bathing frequency if eczema

Most international guidelines recommend bathing daily for about 5–10 min with warm water and using emollients immediately after bathing (1):

• European guidelines recommend only a short duration (5 min) with the use of bath oils in the last 2 min of bathing [temperature of water 27–30 °C]
  • are no recommendations about the weekly frequency

Evidence of no difference between daily or weekly bathing in eczema symptoms

• a randomised controlled trial found that weekly bathing makes no difference to eczema symptoms compared to daily bathing, suggesting people with eczema can choose the bathing frequency that suits them best (2):
  • participants in both the weekly and daily bathing groups showed similar improvements in eczema symptoms over four weeks, and neither method was found to be harmful
    • participants were allocated (1:1) using minimisation, balancing on eczema severity (POEM), age and usual method of bathing, to either the weekly bathing group (bath or shower once or twice a week) or the daily bathing group (≥6 times a week) for 4 weeks
    • participants were not blinded to their allocation
    • primary outcome was participant reported eczema symptoms collected weekly over four weeks using POEM (range 0 to 28, higher scores more severe)
  • study provides reassurance that a consistent bathing routine is not necessary to manage eczema and allows for personal preference
    • trial found no evidence of a difference in eczema symptoms between bathing or showering weekly compared to daily

Reference:

1. Pagliaro M, Pecoraro L, Stefani C, Pieropan S, Piacentini G, Pietrobelli A. Bathing in Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Age: Why, How and When. Pediatr Rep. 2024 Jan 8;16(1):57-68.
2. Bradshaw L et al. Weekly versus daily bathing for people with eczema: results of the Eczema Bathing online randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Dermatology 10 November 2025.