Wet wrap therapy is a treatment for moderate to severe eczema flares in children. It involves putting moisturizer or a medicated cream on the skin and covering it with a damp layer of clothing or bandaging. Then a dry outer layer of clothing or bandaging is placed on top.

It is most often used during flares, when skin is red, itchy, or oozing fluid. Your child's doctor will tell you whether wet wrap therapy is right for your child and how often to use it.

Wet wraps are used when regular moisturizing and topical treatments are not controlling a flare. They help calm the skin faster than creams alone. They may also reduce the need for stronger medicine.

They also help break the itch-scratch cycle. When children scratch irritated skin, it can make the eczema worse. That can raise the risk of infection. The wrap creates a barrier that makes it harder to scratch.

To use wet wraps, follow the instructions that your child's doctor gives you. If you don't have instructions, here are the steps you can follow.

1. Give your child a short soak in a lukewarm bath.
2. Pat the skin gently. Do not rub it dry.
3. Apply moisturizer or any prescribed medicated cream, or both, to the affected areas while the skin is still damp.
4. Soak a layer of cotton clothing or bandaging in warm water. Wring it out so it is damp but not dripping, and place it over the cream. Cotton pajamas and clothing specially designed for this purpose work well.
5. Place a dry layer of clothing over the wet layer to hold it in place.
6. Leave the wrap on for several hours or up to 24 hours, as directed by your child's doctor.
7. When you remove the wrap, apply more moisturizer right away.

Wet wraps are typically used for a few days until the flare improves. Once the skin settles down, the wraps are stopped.

Wet wraps can help with eczema flares in several ways.

• Cooling: As water evaporates from the damp layer, it cools the skin and helps relieve itching, redness, and soreness.
• Moisturizing: The wet layer helps push moisturizer deeper into the skin for longer-lasting hydration.
• Better medicine absorption: If a medicated cream is used under the wrap, the damp layer helps the skin absorb it better.
• Protection: The wrap covers the skin so that your child is less likely to scratch and cause more irritation or infection.

Wet wrap therapy can also help your child get better rest during an eczema flare. Many families notice that their child sleeps better during wet wrap therapy because the itching is less intense.

Wet wrap therapy is generally safe when used as directed. But there are a few things to watch out for.

• Skin irritation: Too much moisture over time can make the skin soft and break down. This is called maceration. Follow your doctor's instructions about how long to leave the wraps on.
• Infection: Prolonged use can raise the risk of a skin infection. Watch for increased redness, warmth, swelling, or oozing.
• Getting too cold: Infants can lose body heat through wet wraps. Check that your baby stays warm during treatment.
• Medicine absorption: Wet wraps increase how much medicine the skin takes in. Your child's doctor will carefully choose the type and strength of any topical steroid used under the wrap.

Always follow your doctor's instructions about which creams to use, how long to leave the wraps on, and when to stop using them.