Wet wrapping therapy is a miracle short-term fix for moderate to severe eczema. While in no means a cure, wet wraps can offer a much needed break from the everyday stress of dry, itchy eczema. Results can be dramatic after one time, but it will usually take 1-2 days with wrapping 2-3x per day before major changes in the skin can be seen.
Wet wrapping is a commitment (both in time and energy) and can be a challenge getting little ones to cooperate. Good distraction techniques are crucial – read my tips below for wet wrapping and children.
Disclaimer: If you are currently using cortisone, pro-topic, or any other medication to treat the eczema, you must speak with your physician on how to properly use the medication with wet wrapping. Also, before beginning wet wraps you should speak with your practitioner about the process, make sure they’re on board, and determine how long you can safely carry on with wet wrapping. Our physician believed eczema wet wraps could begin to dry out the skin if used for more than one week, so we were always careful to abide by his one-week policy.
What is wet wrapping therapy?
Wet wrapping therapy consists of soaking and sealing the skin in the following way:
- First, a bath to soak the skin.
- Afterwards the skin is lightly dried, then sealed with a heavy layer of cream or balm/salve.
- Next dress the skin with damp clothing or a layer of damp bandages.
- Then top with a layer of dry clothing or bandages.
- Leave the wraps on for at least two hours.
- Add another layer of cream or balm salve, then dress as usual.
Why does it work?
The layer of wet clothing locks the moisture in, giving the creams or balms/salves time to completely saturate and penetrate the skin. In addition, as the water evaporates from the wet layer, it provides a cooling sensation for the skin, which can relieve the eczema itch.
What are wet wraps?
All wet wrapped up.
Eczema wet wraps are the garments or materials used to wrap eczema skin in a damp protective layer. They come in many styles. Some are made specifically for wet wrapping and for eczema children, while some items can be found in your closet (cotton form fitting pajamas, white cotton tube socks for hands and feet, etc).
What do you need to get started?
- Bathtub filled with lukewarm water
- Bath oils (only if desired)
- Towel
- Cream or balm/salve (National Jewish does not recommend Aquaphor)
- Topical prescription – only if directed by your physician
- Spray bottle filled with plain water
- (2) Sets of clothing or bandages/dressings. Exact garments will depend on areas you want to treat, but can include:
- (1) one-piece pajamas or top & bottom, form fitting
- (1) one-piece pajamas or top & bottom, slightly larger
- (2) turtleneck for wrapping the neck, or scarf
- (4) pairs of long white cotton tube socks to cover hands and feet
- (2) sets of gauze bandages for wrapping the face and head
How to wet wrap (step-by-step)
My son had head-to-toe eczema, but the eczema on his face was mild in comparison to the severe eczema on the rest of his body, so we concentrated on the neck down. However, wet wrapping can be done over the entire body, including face and head, or just localized to one part of the body like behind the knees or feet. Basically, only use wet wrapping where you need it most.
- Soak in a bathtub filled with lukewarm water (90-96 F or 32-36 C) for 15-20 minutes. You can add a few drops of a moisturizing or soothing oil to the bath water if you wish. Nothing else should be added. Make sure the areas of the body to treat stay fully submerged in the water.
- Pat (never rub) dry with a cotton towel.
- Immediately (within 2-3 minutes) moisturize the skin with the cream or balm/salve, making sure to liberally apply on the areas of the body that need treating. The skin should be very moist when finished. You may need to go back and apply another layer in some areas before moving to the next step.
- Wet one layer of clothing or bandages in warm, not hot, water. Wring them out until damp, not too wet or dripping. Dress in this layer of warm, damp clothing or bandages fully covering the areas of eczema to treat.
- Cover the damp layer with the dry layer of clothing (slightly larger) or bandages.
- Leave the wet and dry layer on for a minimum of two hours.
- Check the wet layer every once in a while to make sure it’s still damp. If it starts to dry out use the spray bottle of pure water to dampen the clothing again.
- Check the temperature of the room to ensure comfort. It shouldn’t be too hot, too cold, or too breezy (if there is a fan).
- After at least two hours, remove the clothing or bandages and completely moisturize the skin again with the creams or balm/salve.
- Dress as usual.
- Repeat two to three times per day or as advised by your physician.
Note: Some people like to leave the wraps on an entire night, sleeping with them on. However, we had a hard time keeping the wet layer damp, so we only used wet wraps during the day when we could keep an eye on the wet layer.
Tips for wet wrapping and your eczema child
Attempting a smile for the camera while keeping one eye on the television.
- Wet wrapping is long and boring for children, so make sure to have plenty of entertainment and distraction techniques lined up. We relied on TV a lot, which was a treat for our son. Read my post for ideas Itchy Irritated Skin, Scratching Little Fingers – Part Two: Distraction Techniques.
- If you’re looking for a good natural, non-toxic cream, balm, or bath oil to use during wet wrapping, take a look at those available at The Eczema Company.
- Use caution with long wet bandages that could become unwrapped, potentially creating a suffocation hazard. This would be of particular concern if the child wears the wet wraps to sleep.
- Cotton clothing made for children with eczema, such as those found here can be much easier for fast wet wrapping. AD Rescue Wear makes excellent fully body suits and small sleeves for wet wrapping. While they are more expensive, people in the UK may be able to request them on prescription thus bringing the costs down substantially.
Wet wrapping worked wonders for us. How did it work for you? Please share your experiences with us.
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After I initially commented I seem to have clicked
the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each time a comment is added I recieve 4 emails
with the exact same comment. There has to be a means
you are able to remove me from that service? Many thanks!
Hi – I’m sorry, but I cannot make any changes to this on my end. You should be able to see an unsubscribe section on the next email you receive about a comment to this post.
I was wondering at what point can you stop the wet wraps. I used them on my baby’s legs and they feel great, however if I leave his legs without socks and pants, he immediately tries to scratch again. How can I stop the itching? His legs look great, without any eczema on them and I’d love to put him in shorts and no socks since I live in a very warm state.
Hi Simone – I’m afraid until you figure out all his triggers, the itching will come and go. The Eczema Ease Balm is helpful for itching – I use it on my hands and it’s great for me. Have tried the ScratchMeNot mittens to cover his hands and protect him from scratching? Or are they too warm for your climate?
Hi, we have wet wrapped my 21month old daughters arms for the last three nights. She has severe discoid eczema, now for the first time in four months, her arms aren’t bleeding, oozing and itchy!! An amazing result, thank you. Xx
Lisa, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you and your daughter. Such great news!!!!
My 2yo son is currently trying his first wet wrap. He thought it was strange that mommy was putting wet clothes on him but i explained it will help his skin. I need to go buy some bandages so i can wrap his ears where it seems to be the worst. Here’s hoping this helps and we can add this to the routine.
Ha! I bet he thought it was strange. I remember my son thinking the same thing, and me as well when I first heard about this type of treatment. What a forgeign concept…wet clothes, really??!! Good luck with the treatment – I hope his gives your son some relief.
Useful information! I’m sad at times, tears run down my face because my 4 month old is suffering in this since he was few weeks old….its sereve atopic dermatitis, i’ve tried everything… even a dermatologist. I want to try this… no harm in trying this out. I hope it works! Thank You!
Hi there- Sending hugs your way! It’s so hard, but you guys will get through it. I hope the wet wrapping works wonders for you and your sweet son. Jennifer
Hi Jennifer
Do you have any tips on How to go about finding my triggers? I have been dealing with this for about two years and it just keeps getting worse!
Thanks
Hi Adreanne –
Sure! It’s all about removal and then reintroduction of suspicious items. This makes me think that I need to write a post about this, so thanks for the nudge
You can start with food. Remove gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs completely (and anything that could contain traces of these products) for one week, up to one month. Then one item back in for 4 days, then if there is no reaction, add another in, etc. An excellent book for this is “Dealing with Allergies in Babies in Children” http://www.allergynutrition.com/pages/p45/dealing_with_food_allergies_in_babies_and_children.php Yes, it’s targeted for children, but it has a great easy to follow elimination diet specifically for eczema. Try to get it at your library.
Then, I’d look at your laundry products. Try using soap nuts – they are very natural and free of allergies. There are some other products you could try, but I find even natural “detergents” can contain harsh ingredients and added fragrances. Try these for a while, wash everything you wear, towels, sheets, etc. The whole house will have to switch over to avoid cross contamination. All family members clothing will need to be washed the same way.
Do you have any animals? As harsh as this is going to sound, I’d try to find a friend to let them stay with for a few weeks and see how you feel. Clean the house VERY thoroughly once the animals are out to remove all their dander and such.
Cleaning – try to use simple, make your own recipes using vinegar, water, and baking soda to clean. Not only will these be more gentle on your skin, but they are very gentle on the wallet as well
There are some good natural product out there you can try as well. Just remember, no fragrance!!!
If you have throw rugs only, remove them and stick to bare wood floors. Rugs are dust mite and pet allergen magnets. Wash all curtains with soap nuts.
Clothing – try cotton only.
Skincare – that’s tricky. You’re going to have to buy a few things and try each for at least one week and see how you do. I have a few things you could try that I love and works wonders on my son. For soap, we use this natural olive oil based soap with only 3 ingredients. Remember the more the ingredients, the harder it is to track down the allergen. http://www.eczemacompany.com/olive-oil-nablus-soap/ We treat his big flareups with this Calendulis Cream. http://www.eczemacompany.com/calendulis-cream/ And for everyday moisture, we use this Manuka Honey Skin Cream. http://www.eczemacompany.com/manuka-honey-skin-cream/
The skincare above contains ingredients that very rarely trigger allergies or a reaction, but you could still react. Anyone can have an allergy to pretty much anything. So, make sure to do a small patch test on any new items you try before slathering your body with them.
For shampoo, if you don’t have trouble with eczema on your head, you can try to stick with what you’re using. But, for some, if there is a ingredient in the shampoo that is an allergy for you, just rinsing it off allows it to touch your body and could cause a reaction.
I’d start there. Let me know how it goes. Feel free to email me directly. I’ll be happy to help you if I can. jennifer@eczemacompany.com I have a lot of suggestions for natural supplements you may want to consider taking as well – fish oils, probiotics, etc.
Good luck!
Jennifer
Thank you for all of the advice! Wish me luck! I hope I can find my triggers with your suggestions.
Me too! Good luck!!!
My 19 year old has been struggling with this for 2 solid years. We’ve tried it all – and the most dramatic thing that helped was moving from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California. We’ve come to learn that for him, when it rains and then especially in the few days after it rains, his eczema flares up horribly. In the Pacific Northwest, where it rained all the time, we never guessed it was the climate. We tried every medicine, every diet, every dust mite theory, 16 physicians, and even moved from a house with well water to a house with city water. Nothing worked except for moving to a dry sunny climate – and even then – when it rains, his body is attacked. My heart goes out to all of the kids struggling with this and to all of the parents.
This might sound really silly, but it is possible he’s actually allergic to water or rain? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquagenic_urticaria Another thought, is it the mold that grows in rainy or humid climates perhaps? I’m assuming you had him tested for all the molds? Poor guy! At least you stayed strong for him and helped him figure out the trigger. Good for you mamma!
I’ve thought of that and have even searched: “Allergic to rain” – Being allergic to water is ridiculous, seeing as how we are made up of 60% water – but yet when one is searching for answers, we’ll turn over every stone. I believe his auto-immune reaction has something to do with the effect of water on mold spores or pollen or some such non-sense, not necessarily the effect of water on his skin (although it’s true – bathing aggravates his condition considerably and is very painful). Mainly I wanted to put the word out there to other parents who have tried everything and have found no relief that placing the child in a different climate may help. It’s financially not easy to just pick up and move and find work and all of that, but when it comes to alleviating the torture of your child, it seems we will do almost anything. Thank you for sharing your blog. Somewhere on your site I read about the high stress of caregivers tending to children with eczema – that was affirming to hear – and I, for one, can vouch for that fact. Regards to you and your family,Deena Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2012 01:51:58 +0000 To: drdeena@msn.com
Thank you Deena – yes, we can certainly relate to the hardships of dealing with eczema. I’m very happy to hear you’re finally discovered the trigger, albeit a very unusual one, making it all that much harder to pin point. Take care!
Deena, can you tell us how long you’ve lived in CA? We live in the Pacific Northwest and when we visited San Diego, CA in the spring, our daughter was fine. But when we went at Christmas time, her skin went nuts.
I’ve been using the wet wrapping technique for my 8 yr old since he was 4 and he loves it because it really works, better than anything creams/ointments/ lotions or steroids alone. We do it at night after his bath when he’s usually in the most discomfort and by morning he’s btwn 50-100% better if only 50% we repeat in the morning… it has never failed him.
Hi Tara – That’s wonderful that it’s helped your son so much. Same here. It truly is a miracle treatment, but the effects from one wrapping are short term. Jennifer
I have a type of eczema on my hands & arms that stings with any lotion I put on it, it itches horribly, and even if I avoid washing my hands too much/doing dishes or certain foods (sugar) I still get it (thanks to hormones). So, I thought I’d try Made From The Earth Aloe Jojoba Creme Therapy and let me tell you-IT WORKS! I’ve been using it for over a month now and it’s like 90% gone-I just had a flare up (due to high stress, no doubt)…so it doesn’t erase it completely but WOW-I’m not up all night scratching and having to suffer with scaley, scabby hands any more!
That’s wonderful for you! Congratulations! I know it’s amazing when you find something that actual works wonders for your skin. Jennifer
I am trying the wet wrap on my right foot which had severe eczema which triggered when I was pregnant with twins (they’re 2.5 years old and I still have the eczema). I hope this works as the steroid my derma prescribes eversince I had this as a child has stopped working.
I am using Eczemax to moisturize. It hasn’t worked at all when I used it but I am trying it now with the wet wrap moisturizer.
So desperate for this to go. How much more with kids…
Hi there – Keep your spirits up, you’ll find what’s triggering this eczema and get it all sorted out. I sure hope the wet wraps work for you. They really can help provide relief, but keep in mind it’s only temporary. Definitely work on finding your triggers to stop your eczema altogether. Jennifer
Hi Jennifer, Some more informaiton on the use of Comfifast Easywraps can be found at –
http://www.synergyhealthplc.com/news/news-article-106.aspx
Kind regards, Rachel
Thanks Rachel! Any garments that make wet wrapping easier are a great!
I worked with a woman who used to have her son sleep in wet pajama pants. She said it was starnge but that it did help him a lot.
Yes, it certainly does sound a bit strange and I was skeptical, but man does it work!
Hi Jennifer
in the following link you can find a video about wet wrapping
http://www.theallergyshop.com.au/pages/Tubifast-Applications-.html
Regards
Christian
Thanks for sharing! Great illustrations!