What Is Eczema?
Eczema in adulthood commonly shows up on hands or just one area of the body. It can also flare up with emotional stress and anxiety (Paller et al. 2023).
Those who have it may have a family history of developing allergic diseases or have a genetic mutation that leads to a defective skin barrier (Nutten 2015).
The Cleansing Myth
There is a myth that washing LESS is good for eczema. This is likely because the wrong cleansers — such as soaps — do worsen eczema.
Harsh cleansers like soaps and sulfates strip away even more of the already impaired skin barrier. The alkaline pH of soap further harms the naturally acidic skin's ability to protect itself from bacterial colonization. Failure to moisturize after washing can also leave skin more dry and worsen eczema.
To properly manage eczema, it is important to wash MORE — but use the right cleansers and ALWAYS moisturize after cleansing. Washing is crucial as 90% of people with eczema have skin colonized with harmful bacteria such as S. aureus.
For cleansing, it is important to avoid soaps and instead use cleansers that are soap-free, sulfate-free, dye-free, fragrance-free and have an acidic pH (AAD, Paller et al. 2023). Check out this article for a detailed comparison of soap and soap-free cleansers.
Why Moisturizing Matters
After cleansing, it is important to always apply moisturizers. It is appropriate to apply moisturizers to the skin as needed or twice to three times daily (Nutten 2015). Thicker moisturizers are generally considered better than thinner lotions (Paller et al. 2023).
Treatment Options
Proper cleansing and moisturization are key to managing adult eczema. When flare-ups occur, a wide variety of prescription options such as corticosteroids may also be prescribed (Frazier and Bhardwaj 2020).
If you want to learn more, check out our in-depth guide to eczema here.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Association Site. Eczema Types: Atopic Dermatitis Overview. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/types/atopic-dermatitis. Accessed April 2023.
- Frazier W, Bhardwaj N (2020). "Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment." American Family Physician 101(10): 590–598.
- National Eczema Association Site. Atopic dermatitis — https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/types-of-eczema/atopic-dermatitis/ (Accessed January 2024).
- Nutten S (2015). "Atopic Dermatitis: Global Epidemiology and Risk Factors." Ann Nutr Metab 66 (suppl 1): 8–16.
- Paller AD, Butala S, Howe W (2023). Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema). In: UpToDate, Corona R (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA (Accessed on January 15, 2024).
- Schmitt J, Schakel K, Schmitt N, Meurer M (2007). "Systemic Treatment of Severe Atopic Eczema: A Systematic Review." Acta Derm Venereol. 87: 100–111.
