Quick answer: Eczema affects about 30% of Australian children, according to Perth Children's Hospital,¹ and bath time is one of the most important parts of caring for their skin. Bath your baby or child once a day in lukewarm water, using a soap-free wash or bath oil instead of soap.² Keep it short, pat the skin dry and apply moisturiser all over within three minutes of getting out. How you bath matters more than how often: flare-ups linked to bathing come more from harsh cleansers, hot water and skipped moisturiser than from daily baths.³
Your eczema bath routine at a glance
| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Run a lukewarm bath | Warm, never hot | Hot water strips the skin's protective oils |
| 2. Use a soap-free wash or bath oil | No soap, bubble bath or shower gel | Soap dries the skin; soap-free cleansers don't |
| 3. Keep it short | Around 10–15 minutes at most | Recommended by Australian children's hospitals |
| 4. Pat dry | Don't rub | Rough drying irritates eczema-prone skin |
| 5. Moisturise within 3 minutes | Whole body, including the face | Seals in moisture before the skin dries out |
| 6. Apply any prescribed treatment | Cortisone cream on eczema areas, as directed | Moisturiser treats dryness; cortisone treats inflammation |
How often should you bath a baby with eczema?
Once a day. In eczema, the skin doesn't hold on to moisture well, which leaves it more open to irritants and allergens.⁴ A daily bath followed by moisturiser rehydrates the skin and removes the dirt, irritants and allergens that build up during the day.
Children's Health Queensland describes a daily lukewarm bath as an important part of managing eczema², then applying moisturiser to damp skin whether or not it looks dry.¹
You may have heard that children with eczema should only be bathed two or three times a week. That advice came from concern that water and cleansers dry the skin out. A review in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology looked at the debate. It concluded that daily bathing is fine when followed straight away by moisturiser, and that bathing-related flares are driven more by harsh detergents, hot water and missed moisturiser than by bath frequency.³
How long and how warm should the bath be?
Lukewarm and short. Children's Health Queensland recommends 10–15 minutes in the bath.² Test the water with your wrist or elbow before your baby gets in: it should feel warm, not hot.
Is a bath or a shower better for eczema?
Either is fine. Australian guidance recommends a bath or a shower once a day.⁵ Babies are usually bathed, while older children can shower using the same rules: lukewarm water, a soap-free wash, and moisturiser straight afterwards.
What should you wash a child with eczema with?
A soap-free wash or bath oil, never soap. Soap-free cleansers clean the skin without drying it the way soap does, and bath oils can be added straight to the water.² Avoid soaps, shower gels and bubble baths. Telethon Kids suggests using the soap-free wash only on the dirty parts of the body, at the end of the bath.⁵
Stelatopia Cleansing Oil is a fragrance-free wash formulated for eczema-prone skin. It is suitable from birth (for babies outside NICU) and for the whole family. You can pour it into the bath water as a bath oil or apply it directly to wet skin as a wash, and it is also suitable for hair. For dry, eczema-prone scalps, try Stelatopia Foam Shampoo.
How should you dry eczema-prone skin?
Pat, don't rub. Rubbing with a towel irritates eczema-prone skin, so gently pat it dry with a soft towel instead.³ Pay particular attention to skin folds such as the neck, armpits and thighs, and leave the skin slightly damp, ready for moisturiser.
Before bath time, take off rings and bracelets. Keep both your nails and your child's nails short to avoid accidental scratches.
Why is moisturising after the bath so important?
It's the most important step in the routine. Allergists who reviewed the evidence on bathing called the moisturising step the most important part, because skin left without moisturiser after a bath dries out even more. Apply it within three minutes of getting out of the water.³
Perth Children's Hospital recommends moisturising the whole body, including the face, every day, even when there's no visible eczema. Thick creams and ointments are more hydrating than lotions.¹ Apply moisturiser at least once a day, and more often if the skin feels dry.⁵ All major eczema treatment guidelines recommend daily emollients, whatever the severity.⁶
Which moisturiser should I use?
For the body, Stelatopia+ Lipid-Replenishing Cream is a certified-organic emollient formulated for eczema-prone skin. In Mustela's clinical studies it provided 24-hour hydration after a single application.⁷ For the face, Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream has a lighter texture and is tested for use around the eyelids. Applying moisturiser is also a lovely moment for a gentle massage and some calm, skin-to-skin time with your baby.
What everyday triggers should you watch for around bath time?
Common aggravating factors include:⁵
- soaps, shower gels and bubble baths
- overheating and overdressing
- prickly or rough fabrics
- grass, sand and animal hair
- heavily chlorinated pools⁸
After the bath, dress your child in soft, breathable fabrics such as cotton, and avoid bundling them up too warmly.
When should you see a doctor?
Contact your GP or healthcare professional if:
- your child's skin looks infected: very red, weepy, or with yellow crusts,²
- itching is disrupting your child's sleep,⁴
- the eczema isn't improving with daily bathing and moisturising, or is getting worse.
For more on how eczema develops and what the research says, read our guide to eczema myths and facts.
Frequently asked questions about bathing a baby with eczema
Do I need to rinse off Stelatopia Cleansing Oil?
It depends how you use it. Added to bath water as a bath oil, it doesn't need rinsing: it stays on the skin to soothe and protect. Applied directly to the skin as a wash, it should be rinsed off thoroughly.
Can my child with eczema go swimming?
Yes, but over-chlorinated pools can aggravate eczema.⁸ After swimming, rinse your child off with fresh water and apply moisturiser straight away.
References
- Perth Children's Hospital (Child and Adolescent Health Service, WA). Eczema – A guide for health professionals.
- Children's Health Queensland. Eczema – bathing your child.
- Cardona ID, Stillman L, Jain N (2016). Does bathing frequency matter in pediatric atopic dermatitis? Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 117(1): 9–13.
- ASCIA. Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) – Fast Facts.
- Telethon Kids Institute. Eczema (atopic dermatitis) fact sheet – Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin Project.
- Mustela Australia. Study on Atopic Dermatitis in infants, children and adults.
- Mustela Australia. Stelatopia+ Studies: Clinical Efficacy & Results.
- Perth Children's Hospital (Child and Adolescent Health Service, WA). Caring for your child's eczema.
This article provides general information and does not replace medical advice. Always consult your GP, paediatrician or dermatologist about your child's skin.
