What is an eczema (atopic dermatitis) flare?
Eczema flares happen when eczema suddenly gets worse.
Flares are commonly triggered by a wide range of things that irritate the skin, but sometimes flares happen for no obvious reason.
It is important to keep moisturising your skin, following your management routine and doing what you can to help prevent a flare.
Managing eczema flares
Skin damage can be prevented by applying creams or ointments prescribed by your doctor as soon as redness and/or itching occurs and ongoing moisturising of your skin. Not using enough of the treatments can cause skin damage due to itching, which can lead to scarring.
There are a few other options to help control flares, such as baths with a small amount of bleach in them (bleach baths) and wet dressings.
Watered-down bleach baths
Bleach baths are an effective and safe way for babies, children and adults to stop skin with eczema from getting infected. The amount of bleach in a bleach bath is like the amount of chlorine in a swimming pool. Bleach baths are usually recommended for people who have repeated infected eczema.
Tips
- Mark the desired water level on the bath (with sticky tape) so you only need to measure with a bucket once.
- If you have been told to use salt and bath oil, also add 1/3 cup of salt per 10L of water, and 1-2 capfuls of bath oil.
The below pictures are of babies having watered-down bleach baths, but can be used as a treatment for children and adults with ezcema too.
- Wash and dry your hands
2. Using a 10-litre bucket, fill bath to the level you usually have it
3. Add 12mls of unscented (plain, not with lemon, etc) household White King bleach per 10L of bath water
4. Wash yourself/your child in bath including face but be careful not to get the water in the eyes
5. Gently clean any eczema sores and remove crusts
6. Once clean, get out of the bath without rinsing. Gently pat dry with a soft, clean towel
7. Apply steroid cream/ointment and moisturiser as directed by your doctor or nurse practitioner
Wet dressings
Wet dressings help to keep moisture in the skin and reduce the itch
Leave wet dressings on for the time specified by your doctor/nurse practitioner. This can be for 20 minutes, a few hours, or sometimes overnight. Follow the advice of your doctor/nurse practitioner.
Do not leave a wet dressing on all day as it can dry the skin.
The below pictures are of babies having wet dressings, but can be used as a treatment for children and adults with ezcema too.
- Wash and dry your hands.
2. Half fill a large mixing bowl with slightly warm water
3. If recommended, add 1 capful of bath oil
4. Add 1 pair of cotton pants/leggings and 1 long-sleeved cotton t-shirt to the bowl.
5. As advised, apply topical steroid cream/ointment to all areas with eczema, and moisturiser
6. Put wet clothing (the wet dressing) on
7. Then put dry clothing over the wet clothing
8. When you remove the wet dressings, apply moisturiser to the whole body and face again.
Related information
Read more about eczema
Find out about triggers, daily management and treatment options.