Limited scientific evidence suggests Epsom salt may benefit eczema. According to anecdotal evidence, bathing in natural salts may help relieve symptoms, so a person may wish to try this home remedy alongside topical treatments.

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Anecdotal evidence suggests people may reduce the severity of their eczema symptoms by soaking affected skin in baths containing Epsom salt.

This may help with the following symptoms, which are common with eczema:

However, as a 2019 review explains, no convincing scientific studies have found Epsom salt to help with eczema symptoms.

This article discusses using Epsom salt to treat eczema symptoms. It will describe how to try it and examine other ways to treat eczema.

There are no official medical guidelines on how to use Epsom salt in a bath.

However, people who wish to try using Epsom salt in their bath can follow these steps:

  • use 2 cups of Epsom salt per gallon of water
  • pour the Epsom salt into lukewarm water
  • soak in the water for 10 to 15 minutes

People need to be aware that health experts do not know the optimal bathing duration for those with eczema or how frequently to take Epsom salt baths.

General bathing recommendations for eczema

Following the general guidelines of bathing once daily for up to 10 to 15 minutes may benefit the skin of people with eczema.

Bathing and showering allow individuals to wash away sweat, dust, pollen, and microbes, which may worsen eczema symptoms.

The 2019 review also recommends people clean their skin thoroughly during a bath by carefully and gently removing any crusts that can form on the affected skin.

However, experts do not recommend strong rubbing or scrubbing during or after a bath, as this can cause skin damage.

Taking care of the skin after a bath can help prevent eczema from worsening.

After a bath, people with eczema can pat their skin with a soft towel until almost dry and avoid rubbing it.

If a person requires topical medication, they can apply it before applying moisturizer. The National Eczema Association recommends using a high oil content moisturizer to hydrate the skin and improve skin barrier function. Heavily scented products may irritate the skin, so it is best to avoid them.

After applying medicated ointments or creams, a person can apply moisturizer liberally within 3 minutes of finishing a bath or shower. Applying it within this timeframe is important, as leaving it longer may cause it to dry out.

People with eczema should moisturize at least twice daily. It may be useful to moisturize more frequently during acute eczema flare-ups.

A 2019 review states that some bath additivities can improve the effectiveness of pharmacological eczema treatments. These bath additives include:

However, other researchers are unconvinced about the efficacy of such bath additives.

More research is necessary into bath additives and eczema, as there are few quality trials to support their use.

Topical pharmacological treatments for eczema include steroid creams and anti-inflammatory drugs. The purpose of these medications is to help prevent and manage eczema flare-ups.

There is strong evidence that topical steroids can help with long- and short-term eczema symptoms. Other treatments include topical calcineurin inhibitors, which are also very effective at treating eczema in children and adults.

Read more about eczema treatments.

No current scientific research suggests that Epsom salt can help with eczema symptoms. The same is true of other bathing additives, such as Dead Sea salt.

However, bathing in lukewarm water daily without additivities may improve eczema symptoms and reduce the frequency of flare-ups.

Experts recommend that people with eczema moisturize twice daily and avoid using chemicals, fragrances, or other products with irritants that may trigger a flare.