Pearls and pitfalls of bathing in atopic dermatitis

The latest guidelines of the American Academy of Dermatology suggest bathing as an advantageous nonpharmacologic intervention for regular skin care of patients with atopic dermatitis. Regular bathing with water can hydrate the skin, remove scale, crust, irritants, and allergens, enhance penetration of topical agents, and potentially reduce bacterial colonization. However, it is still unclear whether the addition of oils, emollients, and other additives to bath water may produce further benefits for the management of atopic dermatitis. This article will review current pearls and pitfalls of adding salts and nonirritating, nonsensitizing substances to water baths for the long-term maintenance treatment of atopic dermatitis in children.