Study Reveals Daily or Weekly Bathing Does Not Affect Eczema

A recent study has determined that individuals with eczema can bathe either daily or weekly without influencing their symptoms. Published in the British Journal of Dermatology, these findings provide significant insights for those managing the condition, offering them the flexibility to choose their bathing frequency without the anxiety of exacerbating their symptoms.

The study, known as the Eczema Bathing Study, was conducted by researchers from Nottingham University and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, in collaboration with individuals living with eczema. This research prioritized the perspectives of patients, emphasizing the importance of their experiences in developing relevant studies.

In total, 438 participants from across the UK, including both adults and children, were randomly assigned to two groups: one that bathed six or more times a week and another that bathed once or twice a week. Participants continued their usual treatment regimens and documented their eczema symptoms weekly over a four-week period. The results indicated no significant difference in symptoms between the two bathing frequencies.

Lucy Bradshaw, the lead author and Senior Medical Statistician at Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, expressed the positive implications of the findings. “The findings of our study are great news for people living with eczema,” she stated. “It means they can choose a frequency of bathing that suits them. It was fantastic to work so closely with people living with eczema to co-design this study.”

The study’s co-chief investigator, Amanda Roberts, who has personal experience with eczema, noted the everyday challenges faced by those with the condition. “There are so many things in everyday life which have the potential to affect eczema,” she remarked. “It is good to know frequency of bathing or showering is not one of them. One less thing to worry about.”

This research marks the first completed project in the broader Rapid Eczema Trials, a five-year initiative launched in 2022 aimed at addressing critical questions regarding eczema management. This citizen science project has created an Eczema Citizen Science Community that collaborates to design and conduct various online studies. The next phase will focus on the duration of steroid cream use to manage flare-ups effectively.

Co-applicant Matthew Ridd, a General Practitioner and Professor of Primary Health Care at the University of Bristol, emphasized the significance of the findings. “How often to have a bath or shower is such a simple but important issue that people with eczema often ask health care professionals for advice on. The Rapid Eczema Trials project has provided everyone with the best, evidence-based answer to this practical question.”

Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR Infrastructure and Director of NIHR Program Grants for Applied Research, highlighted the study’s patient-centered approach. “This study shows the value of the NIHR’s approach to putting patients and the public at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “By working with people who live with eczema, the research team has been able to answer a question that has affected people’s quality of life for years.”

The findings provide reassurance to those living with eczema, confirming that bathing frequency does not significantly impact symptoms. This allows individuals the freedom to decide on a bathing schedule that best suits their lifestyle and needs.

For more information, refer to the article “Weekly versus daily bathing for people with eczema: results of the Eczema Bathing online randomized controlled trial,” published in the British Journal of Dermatology in March 2025.