A MAJOR new online trial has found that people with eczema can safely bathe as often or as little as they prefer, challenging long-standing debates over whether daily or infrequent washing is best for managing the condition.
The Eczema Bathing Trial is the first randomised controlled trial to directly compare the effects of daily versus weekly bathing in people with eczema. Conducted as part of a citizen science initiative in the UK, the study aimed to answer a question that many patients and clinicians have struggled with: how much does bathing frequency really matter?
Eczema Trial Challenges Long-Held Bathing Advice
Led by scientists from several UK universities, the online trial recruited 438 people aged one year and older who reported having eczema of at least mild severity. Participants were randomly assigned to bathe daily (six or more times per week) or weekly (once or twice per week) for four weeks. Eczema symptoms were measured weekly using the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), a validated tool that rates symptoms on a 0–28 scale, with higher scores indicating worse eczema.
At the start of the study, both groups had similar eczema severity, with average POEM scores around 14–15. Over the four-week period, symptoms improved modestly in both groups. By week four, average POEM scores were 11.6 in the daily bathing group and 10.6 in the weekly group. After adjusting for baseline differences, the mean difference between groups was just –0.4 points (95% confidence interval –1.3 to 0.4; p=0.30), showing no statistically significant difference.
Importantly, no serious side effects or worsening of eczema were reported in either group. Interviews and process evaluations revealed that participants often found it challenging to change established bathing habits, but most valued the opportunity to test different routines.
The researchers concluded that bathing frequency, whether daily or weekly, does not meaningfully affect eczema symptoms. For people living with eczema, this finding offers reassurance and flexibility: they can choose the washing routine that best fits their lifestyle and comfort without worrying it will worsen their skin.
Reference
Bradshaw et al. Weekly versus daily bathing for people with eczema: results of the Eczema Bathing online randomised controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2025; doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljaf417
