Itaffectsabout 10% of Americans, and symptoms begin in childhood for about three-quarters of people with eczema.
There are many ways to manage eczema.
Wet wrapping is a technique that helps combat severe eczema flare-ups, especially in children.
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Materials
A wide range of materials for wet wrapping has been studied.
As for the dry layer, additional dry dressings or even occlusive materials like plastic wrap can work.
A severe flare-up, however, will usually require additional treatment with prescription topical medications like steroids.
One area you may not want to apply wet wrapping to at home is the face.
Is Wet Wrapping Safe?
In studies that have uncovered side effects, the most common was increased mild skin infections.
It’s also important to consider what you are using to wet the dressing.
Medications like topical corticosteroids can have negative effects when used for long periods of time.
Summary
Wet wrapping is sometimes used to help treat severe eczema flare-ups.
Wet wrapping is not recommended as a routine maintenance treatment for eczema.
The ideal duration for wet wrapping is unclear, but a range of three to 14 days is typical.
In one study, children hospitalized for severe eczema flare-ups saw improvement after just three days of wet wrapping.
However, wet wrapping is not recommended as a daily treatment strategy for eczema.
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