A recent study has determined that individuals with eczema can choose to bathe daily or weekly without affecting their symptoms. Published in the British Journal of Dermatology, this research offers significant reassurance to those managing eczema, allowing for greater flexibility in personal hygiene routines.
The Eczema Bathing Study, developed in collaboration with patients living with eczema and researchers from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, aimed to address common questions regarding optimal bathing frequency for eczema sufferers.
Study Design and Findings
Involving 438 participants from across the UK, the study randomly assigned individuals to one of two groups: one that bathed six or more times a week and another that bathed one or two times a week. Participants continued their usual treatments and monitored their eczema symptoms weekly over a four-week period.
The results showed no significant difference in eczema symptoms between the two bathing frequencies. Lead author Lucy Bradshaw, a Senior Medical Statistician at the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, expressed optimism about the findings. “This means they can choose a frequency of bathing that suits them,” she stated. “It was fantastic to work so closely with people living with eczema to co-design this study.”
Co-Chief Investigator Amanda Roberts, an eczema patient and caregiver, emphasized the relief these results provide. “It is good to know frequency of bathing or showering is not one of them. One less thing to worry about,” she remarked.
Future Research and Community Engagement
The Eczema Bathing Study is the first completed project as part of a broader five-year initiative launched in 2022, known as the Rapid Eczema Trials. This project aims to tackle pressing questions about eczema management through citizen science, enlisting the participation of affected individuals across the UK.
The next phase of research will focus on the duration of steroid cream usage for managing flare-ups. Matthew Ridd, a Co-applicant and Professor of Primary Health Care at the University of Bristol, highlighted the importance 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,” he said.
The project benefits from collaboration with other UK institutions, including Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham City, and Imperial universities, along with the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit.
According to Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR Infrastructure, this study exemplifies the value of patient-centered research. “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,” she noted.
The findings provide important evidence that bathing frequency does not impact eczema symptoms, giving patients the freedom to choose what works best for them. As the Rapid Eczema Trials project continues, more studies are expected to emerge, focusing on practical aspects of eczema management that have long required attention.
For more details, you can reference the study titled “Weekly versus daily bathing for people with eczema: results of the Eczema Bathing online randomised controlled trial,” published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2025.
