Atopic dermatitis is a skin disease that manifests with dryness, reddened and scaly lesions, that itch a lot (although when they are babies they can be bitten less) and that we usually call eczema. It is the most common skin disease in childhood, which affects about 20% of children in Spain.
One of the biggest doubts about caring for children with atopic dermatitis is how often to bathe the baby. The most widespread recommendation is to reduce the frequency of baths to prevent the skin from drying out and worsening the symptoms of the rash, but recent research suggests that daily bathing is not bad, as long as the skin is hydrated very well.
According to recommendations of the AEPED (Spanish Association of Pediatrics) on the care of children with atopic dermatitis
Unless strictly necessary, a frequency greater than 2-3 bath-showers per week is not recommended. They must be of short duration (5-10 minutes) and with warm water (25º)
But a team of researchers from Maine (United States), led by allergist Iván Cardona, has just published a study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology magazine in which they claim that the daily bath is not harmful and that abundant hydration after bathing is the key, since if the skin is not hydrated immediately after bathing, it causes more dryness and itching.
According to the evidence gathered to carry out the study, scientists say that daily bath technique ("soak and smear", in Spanish "soak and spread") It is the most effective for comforting the skin with eczema.
The child's bathroom with atopic dermatitis
It is better to take showers than bathrooms
They should not last more than 10 minutes
With warm water (between 25 and 33 degrees)
It is recommended to use oatmeal soap or with an acidic pH (5.5-6) to protect the fatty mantle of the skin and bacterial colonization is difficult
Soap preparations with oil can be useful or, after the bath, with the skin still damp, apply a bath oil
After bathing, dry without scrubbing, with a cotton towel
Within five minutes after bathing apply emollient creams with urea to retain skin moisture
Daily bath or not?
The recommendations can be confusing for parents with children with atopic dermatitis, but after all it is they who know their children best. As always, common sense is what prevails in these cases.
Perhaps in winter it is convenient to reduce the frequency of baths to 2-3 per week or one day yes and another no, while in summer the daily bath comes better to eliminate sweat, chlorine and possible irritants that could worsen the symptoms.
The key is to observe if the symptoms improve or worsen and based on that, decide what is the frequency of bath that best suits your baby.
