Wet Wrap Therapy

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This information was reviewed and approved by Mark Boguniewicz, MD (12/1/2012).

When eczema symptoms are severe, your health care provider may suggest wet wrap therapy. These are dressings--often made from articles of clothing--that have been soaked in warm water with a dry layer applied on top. Face wraps are done by nurses trained in the procedure using gauze and surgical netting.


Apply wet wraps to skin after soaking and sealing and after applying topical steroid medicine. The wraps help keep skin moist and improve effectiveness of topical medicine. They also have a cooling anti-itch effect. Rewet or take the wraps off when they start to dry out. This should be done under medical supervision for short periods of time and only to the more severe eczema, and the patient should be observed for signs of skin infection.

Read and watch a video about our study on wet wrap therapy. Results showed over a 70 percent improvement in atopic dermatitis symptoms, reducing the need for medications.

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