A recent study has revealed that individuals with eczema can choose to bathe either daily or weekly without impacting their symptoms. The research, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, brings reassuring news to the eczema community, allowing patients the flexibility to select their bathing routine without concern for worsening their condition.
The study, known as the Eczema Bathing Study, was designed in collaboration with individuals living with eczema, along with researchers from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. It aimed to address common questions regarding optimal bathing practices for those affected by eczema. Participants, numbering 438 from across the UK, were randomly assigned to two groups: one bathing daily (six or more times a week) and the other bathing weekly (one or two times a week).
Throughout the study, participants continued their regular eczema treatments and documented their symptoms weekly over a four-week period. The findings indicated no significant differences in the severity of eczema symptoms between the two bathing frequencies.
Lucy Bradshaw, the study’s lead author and a senior medical statistician at the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, expressed optimism about the results. She stated, “The findings of our study are great news for people living with eczema. It means they can choose a frequency of bathing that suits them.” Bradshaw emphasized the collaborative nature of the research, highlighting the importance of working closely with individuals affected by eczema to address their concerns.
Amanda Roberts, an eczema patient and co-chief investigator, reflected on the study’s implications. “There are so many things in everyday life which have the potential to affect eczema. It is good to know frequency of bathing or showering is not one of them. One less thing to worry about,” she said.
The Eczema Bathing Study is the first research completed as part of a broader initiative known as the Rapid Eczema Trials research project, which commenced in 2022. This five-year project seeks to answer crucial questions regarding eczema management through citizen science. The initiative has fostered an Eczema Citizen Science Community, inviting individuals from across the UK to participate in various online research studies.
Future studies under the Rapid Eczema Trials umbrella will investigate other aspects of eczema management, including the duration for which steroid creams should be used to control flare-ups.
Matthew Ridd, a general practitioner and co-applicant from the University of Bristol, highlighted the significance of the research. “How often to have a bath or shower is such a simple but important issue that people with eczema often ask healthcare professionals for advice on,” he stated. “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, echoed the study’s importance in enhancing patient quality of life. “This study shows the value of the NIHR’s approach to putting patients and the public at the heart of everything we do. 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 remarked.
The findings from this research not only empower individuals living with eczema but also reinforce the importance of patient involvement in health research. By establishing evidence-based guidelines, the study allows patients the freedom to make informed choices about their bathing habits without fear of exacerbating their symptoms.
For more details, refer to the research article 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, DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljaf417.
