Eczema - bathing your child

A daily bath in lukewarm water is important for managing eczema. Your child should be in the bath for 10-15 minutes.

To clean the skin

You can clean your child’s skin with one of the following options:

Aqueous cream cleanser
This is a cream-based cleanser and will not dry the skin out like soap will. Best for children with very dry skin. Lather your child in aqueous cream before their bath, and then wash off. Ask for “aqueous cream” at any pharmacy.

Soap-free cleanser
Soap-free cleansers clean the skin without leaving it dry like soap does. Rub onto child while in bath as a soap alternative.

Bath oils are another type of soap-free cleanser that can be added to a bath.

Bath additives to treat eczema

Condy’s Crystals (potassium permanganate)
We recommend adding this to the bath if your child suffers from frequent skin infections or the eczema is weeping or infected. It is an antimicrobial/antiseptic (kills bacteria and viruses) and a drying agent. It also helps dry out the oozing areas. Available at pharmacies, without prescription.

Use twice weekly as maintenance or daily during moderate to severe flares or if skin is infected.

How to prepare the bath: Add a very small pinch to the bath until the water turns light pink. Be sure all crystals are dissolved before your child gets in the bath. Note: Infected skin is very red, weepy, and often has yellow crusts. During the bath, soak the crusted areas and gently remove crusts.

Bleach and salt
This is an anti-inflammatory and mild antiseptic bath for those who suffer from frequent eczema flares. It helps reduce inflammation and modify bacteria living on the skin. We recommend using White King 4% plain (unscented) household bleach. The strength of the mix is about one-tenth of that found in public swimming pools.

Use twice weekly as maintenance or daily during moderate to severe flares.

How to prepare the bath:  Add 12 mL of bleach for every 10 litres of water. You can add pool salt to the bath to ‘soften’ the water. Add 1/3 of a cup for every 10 Litres of water.

After the bath

There is no need to rinse your child’s skin after any bath. Pat your child partially dry.
Do not rub. While the skin is still moist, apply topical corticosteroids to red and inflamed areas, then moisturiser elsewhere liberally, from head to toe.

Developed by the Dermatology Service, Queensland Children’s Hospital. We acknowledge the input of consumers and carers.

Resource ID: FS110. Reviewed: June 2022.

Disclaimer: This information has been produced by healthcare professionals as a guideline only and is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your child’s doctor or healthcare professionals. Information is updated regularly, so please check you are referring to the most recent version. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.