Study Debunks a Big Myth for Eczema and Bathing

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 10 December 2025

⏱️ 6 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A University of Nottingham study with 438 participants found that daily and weekly bathing were equally effective in managing eczema symptoms, quality of life, and treatment needs over four weeks
The research reveals bathing frequency matters less than post-bath skincare. Both groups improved similarly when following up with moisturizers, giving patients flexibility to choose routines that suit their lifestyles without worsening symptoms
Weekly bathers used topical steroid creams slightly less frequently than daily bathers, suggesting less frequent bathing may reduce medication dependency while maintaining skin stability when combined with proper moisturizing habits
For optimal eczema management, use lukewarm water with gentle, fragrance-free cleansers, pat skin dry, and immediately apply moisturizer while skin remains damp to lock in moisture and strengthen the protective barrier
Natural remedies like baking soda, colloidal oatmeal, and Dead Sea salt added to baths provide anti-inflammatory benefits and can help soothe itching, reduce redness, and improve skin hydration when used appropriately

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Are you worried that your bathing routine might be making your eczema worse or that skipping
0:04.6	baths could trigger a flare?
0:07.1	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:09.6	Stay informed with quick, easy to listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when
0:13.9	you're on the go.
0:14.9	No reading required.
0:16.1	Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.
0:20.4	Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:23.2	I'm Ethan Foster.
0:24.9	Today we're looking at new research that compares daily bathing to weekly bathing for
0:29.1	eczema and what actually matters most after you step out of the water.
0:33.4	I'm Alara Skye.
0:35.1	A University of Nottingham team studied 438 people with eczema, from age 1 to 89, and tracked
0:42.0	symptoms for four weeks.
0:44.8	Participants were randomized to bathe daily or weekly.
0:47.6	The headline is simple.
0:49.3	Both groups improved about the same when they followed bathing with proper moisturizing.
0:54.0	That means you can choose the frequency that fits your life
0:56.0	without fearing you'll trigger worse itching or redness.
1:00.0	The study measured itch, eczema control, and quality of life,
1:04.0	and neither group saw more flare-ups or side effects.
1:07.0	Weekly bathers even use topical steroid cream,
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 11 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Briana Mercola, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Briana Mercola and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.