Lifestyle and home remedies
These self-care habits can help you manage dermatitis and feel better:
Moisturize your skin. Routinely applying a moisturizer can help your skin.
Use anti-inflammation and anti-itch products. Hydrocortisone cream might temporarily relieve your symptoms. Oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, may help reduce itching. These types of products are available without a prescription.
Apply a cool wet cloth. This helps soothe your skin.
Take a comfortably warm bath. Sprinkle your bathwater with baking soda or a finely ground oatmeal that's made for the bathtub (colloidal oatmeal). Soak for 5 to 10 minutes, pat dry and apply unscented moisturizer while your skin is still damp. A lotion of 12% ammonium lactate or 10% alpha-hydroxy acid helps with flaky, dry skin.
Use medicated shampoos. For dandruff, use OTC shampoos containing selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar or ketoconazole.
Take a dilute bleach bath. This may help people with severe atopic dermatitis by decreasing the bacteria on the skin. For a dilute bleach bath, add 1/2 cup (about 118 milliliters) of household bleach, not concentrated bleach, to a 40-gallon (about 151-liter) bathtub filled with warm water. Measures are for a U.S. standard-sized tub filled to the overflow drainage holes. Soak for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse off before patting dry. Do this 2 to 3 times a week.
Many people have had success using a dilute vinegar bath rather than a bleach bath. Add 1 cup (about 236 milliliters) of vinegar to a bathtub filled with warm water.
Avoid rubbing and scratching. Cover the itchy area with a dressing if you can't keep from scratching it. Trim your nails and wear gloves at night.
Choose mild laundry detergent. Because your clothes, sheets and towels touch your skin, choose mild, unscented laundry products.
Avoid known irritants or allergens. Try to identify and remove allergens and other factors in your environment that irritate your skin. Avoid rough and scratchy clothing.
Manage your stress. Emotional stressors can cause some types of dermatitis to flare. Consider trying stress management techniques such as relaxation or biofeedback.
Alternative medicine
Many alternative therapies, including those listed below, have helped some people manage their dermatitis. But evidence for their effectiveness is mixed. And sometimes herbal and traditional remedies cause irritation or an allergic reaction.
Dietary supplements, such as vitamin D and probiotics, for atopic dermatitis
Rice bran broth (applied to the skin), for atopic dermatitis
5% tea tree oil shampoo, for dandruff
Aloe, for seborrheic dermatitis
Chinese herbal therapy
If you're considering dietary supplements or other alternative therapies, talk with your doctor about their pros and cons.
Preparing for your appointment
You may first bring your concerns to the attention of your family doctor. Or you may see a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions (dermatologist).
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Before your appointment, list your answers to the following questions:
What are your symptoms, and when did they start?
Does anything seem to trigger your symptoms?
What medications are you taking, including those you take by mouth as well as creams or ointments that you apply to your skin?
Do you have a family history of allergies or asthma?
What treatments have you tried so far? Has anything helped?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in depth. Depending on what type of dermatitis you have, your doctor may ask:
Do your symptoms come and go, or are they fairly constant?
How often do you shower or bathe?
What products do you use on your skin, including soaps, lotions and cosmetics?
What household cleaning products do you use?
Are you exposed to any possible irritants from your job or hobbies?
Have you been under any unusual stress or depressed lately?
How much do your symptoms affect your quality of life, including your ability to sleep?
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Dermatitis care at Mayo Clinic
Request an appointment
Symptoms & causesDoctors & departments
Oct. 28, 2022
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Mayo Clinic and our partners use technologies such as cookies to collect information from your browser to deliver relevantLifestyle and home remedies
These self-care habits can help you manage dermatitis and feel
Lifestyle and home remedies
These self-care habits can help you manage dermatitis and feel better:
Moisturize your skin. Routinely applying a moisturizer can help your skin.
Use anti-inflammation and anti-itch products. Hydrocortisone cream might temporarily relieve your symptoms. Oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, may help reduce itching. These types of products are available without a prescription.
Apply a cool wet cloth. This helps soothe your skin.
Take a comfortably warm bath. Sprinkle your bathwater with baking soda or a finely ground oatmeal that's made for the bathtub (colloidal oatmeal). Soak for 5 to 10 minutes, pat dry and apply unscented moisturizer while your skin is still damp. A lotion of 12% ammonium lactate or 10% alpha-hydroxy acid helps with flaky, dry skin.
Use medicated shampoos. For dandruff, use OTC shampoos containing selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar or ketoconazole.
Take a dilute bleach bath. This may help people with severe atopic dermatitis by decreasing the bacteria on the skin. For a dilute bleach bath, add 1/2 cup (about 118 milliliters) of household bleach, not concentrated bleach, to a 40-gallon (about 151-liter) bathtub filled with warm water. Measures are for a U.S. standard-sized tub filled to the overflow drainage holes. Soak for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse off before patting dry. Do this 2 to 3 times a week.
Many people have had success using a dilute vinegar bath rather than a bleach bath. Add 1 cup (about 236 milliliters) of vinegar to a bathtub filled with warm water.
Avoid rubbing and scratching. Cover the itchy area with a dressing if you can't keep from scratching it. Trim your nails and wear gloves at night.
Choose mild laundry detergent. Because your clothes, sheets and towels touch your skin, choose mild, unscented laundry products.
Avoid known irritants or allergens. Try to identify and remove allergens and other factors in your environment that irritate your skin. Avoid rough and scratchy clothing.
Manage your stress. Emotional stressors can cause some types of dermatitis to flare. Consider trying stress management techniques such as relaxation or biofeedback.
Alternative medicine
Many alternative therapies, including those listed below, have helped some people manage their dermatitis. But evidence for their effectiveness is mixed. And sometimes herbal and traditional remedies cause irritation or an allergic reaction.
Dietary supplements, such as vitamin D and probiotics, for atopic dermatitis
Rice bran broth (applied to the skin), for atopic dermatitis
5% tea tree oil shampoo, for dandruff
Aloe, for seborrheic dermatitis
Chinese herbal therapy
If you're considering dietary supplements or other alternative therapies, talk with your doctor about their pros and cons.
Preparing for your appointment
You may first bring your concerns to the attention of your family doctor. Or you may see a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions (dermatologist).
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Before your appointment, list your answers to the following questions:
What are your symptoms, and when did they start?
Does anything seem to trigger your symptoms?
What medications are you taking, including those you take by mouth as well as creams or ointments that you apply to your skin?
Do you have a family history of allergies or asthma?
What treatments have you tried so far? Has anything helped?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in depth. Depending on what type of dermatitis you have, your doctor may ask:
Do your symptoms come and go, or are they fairly constant?
How often do you shower or bathe?
What products do you use on your skin, including soaps, lotions and cosmetics?
What household cleaning products do you use?
Are you exposed to any possible irritants from your job or hobbies?
Have you been under any unusual stress or depressed lately?
How much do your symptoms affect your quality of life, including your ability to sleep?
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Dermatitis care at Mayo Clinic
Request an appointment
Symptoms & causesDoctors & departments
Oct. 28, 2022
Advertisement
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Advertising & Sponsorship
PolicyOpportunitiesAd Choices
Print
Share on: FacebookTwitter
Show references
Related
Infantile eczema
Stung by a Plant
White patch on skin: A cause for concern?
Products & Services
Assortment of Skin Care Products from Mayo Clinic Store
Dermatitis
Symptoms & causes
Diagnosis & treatment
Doctors & departments
Care at Mayo Clinic
Advertisement
Mayo Clinic Press
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.
Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on Incontinence
NEW – Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure
Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance
FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic PressFREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment
Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book
CON-20166980
Patient Care & Health Information
Diseases & Conditions
Dermatitis
Footer Navigation Links
Mayo Clinic
Request Appointment
Contact Us
About Mayo Clinic
Employees
Find a Job
Site Map
About This Site
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Make a donation.
Footer Tiles
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Notice of Privacy Practices
Notice of Nondiscrimination
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Health information policy
© 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.
Mayo Clinic Privacy Policy
Mayo Clinic and our partners use technologies such as cookies to collect information from your browser to deliver relevantLifestyle and home remedies
These self-care habits can help you manage dermatitis and feel
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