How to support calm skin when eczema starts with a leaky skin barrier

Key takeaways

• About 31.6 million Americans, roughly 1 in 10 people, have some form of eczema, including about 9.6 million children with atopic dermatitis¹.
• Eczema-prone skin often has a leaky outer barrier, partly because of changes in a skin protein called filaggrin²⁴.
• Short lukewarm baths, a thick fragrance-free moisturizer within 3 minutes, and soft cotton clothes are the core of daily care⁶⁸.
• In a trial of 117 children, those using virgin coconut oil saw bigger gains in their eczema scores than those using mineral oil¹².
• Probiotics and vitamin D are drawing encouraging research, and natural care works best as a partner to the plan you build with your care team¹⁴¹⁵.

It often starts at bedtime. A toddler rubs her cheek against the crib sheet. An adult wakes at 2 a.m. scratching a patch behind the knee. The National Eczema Association (NEA) notes that the itch and scratch cycle of eczema can keep people from a good night’s sleep².

Eczema is remarkably common. Around 31.6 million people in the United States, roughly 1 in 10, have some form of it¹. The most common type, atopic dermatitis, affects about 9.6 million children and 16.5 million adults¹.

Much of the care that helps happens at home: in the bathtub, in the closet and at the kitchen table. Simple daily habits support the skin’s natural barrier. Researchers are also studying plant oils, colloidal oatmeal, probiotics and vitamin D, and the early results are encouraging. Here is what the research shows and how natural care fits alongside the plan you make with your doctor.

What eczema is and who gets it

Eczema is a group of conditions that make skin itchy, dry and inflamed. Atopic dermatitis is the most common form, and it is what most people mean when they say “eczema”¹⁷. It is not contagious, so it cannot spread from person to person³.

Atopic dermatitis tends to come and go. Flares alternate with calmer stretches when skin looks and feels close to normal³. Itching is the most common symptom, and it can be intense³. Other signs include red, dry patches, rashes that may ooze or bleed, and skin that thickens over time³.

It usually shows up early in life, most often in a baby’s first six months². Babies tend to get it on the face, the scalp and the skin around bending joints³. Older children notice it in the creases of elbows and knees. Teens and adults often see it on the hands, the neck and around the eyes³.

For many children, eczema fades before the teenage years³. Others carry it into adulthood, and some people get it for the first time as grown-ups. About 1 in 4 adults with atopic dermatitis say their symptoms began in adulthood¹. A family history of eczema, hay fever or asthma raises the odds, and the condition is more common in non-Hispanic Black children³.

A leaky skin barrier sits at the center

Picture the skin’s outer layer (stratum corneum) as a brick wall. Skin cells are the bricks, and fats such as ceramides fill in as mortar. NEA describes ceramides as natural parts of a healthy skin barrier⁸. In eczema, that wall has gaps.

One reason is a protein called filaggrin, which helps keep a healthy, protective barrier on the very top layer of skin². Without enough of it, moisture escapes and bacteria or viruses can get in more easily². A 2020 review in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology calls changes in the filaggrin gene the strongest known genetic risk factor for atopic dermatitis⁴. Carrying these changes roughly triples a person’s risk⁴.

Genes are only part of the picture. An overactive immune system can stir up inflammation in the skin, and things in the environment can wear the barrier down³. The same review notes that skin inflammation itself turns down filaggrin, even in people without the gene changes⁴. That is why soothing the skin and protecting the barrier go hand in hand.

Skin bacteria matter too. People with atopic dermatitis tend to have more Staphylococcus aureus, or “staph,” living on their skin, which raises the risk of infection². Breakdown products of filaggrin normally help keep staph in check, so a weaker barrier gives these bacteria more room⁴. The library’s article on the skin microbiome explores this world in more detail.

How the itch-scratch cycle keeps flares going

Itch is the hallmark of eczema. Inflammation sends itch signals, and itch leads to scratching³. Scratching then releases more inflammatory signals, so the skin itches even more⁵. NEA calls this the itch-scratch cycle and says it often sets off flares⁵. Scratching also damages the skin and raises the risk of bacterial infection³.

Breaking the cycle starts with knowing your triggers. Common ones include scratchy clothing, sweat, humidity, shifting temperatures, harsh skin care routines, fragranced products and stress². A flare can show up some time after exposure, so a simple notebook can help you spot patterns².

Small tricks can quiet an itchy moment. A cold compress or ice pack cools the skin and eases the intensity of the itch⁵. Cotton gloves or short fingernails protect skin from nighttime scratching⁵. For young children, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests distraction, such as a snack, a toy or a story⁹. It also notes that a gentle pinch on skin without eczema can take the edge off⁹.

The daily routine dermatologists recommend

Daily skin care is the foundation of eczema care, and it is where natural habits shine. The routine is simple: wash gently, seal in water and keep irritants away.

Start with the bath. NEA suggests bathing or showering once a day in lukewarm water, not hot⁷. The AAD says a 5 to 10 minute bath or shower in warm water can help hydrate the skin⁶. Use a gentle cleanser without fragrance or dyes, skip the washcloth or loofah, and pat skin dry with a towel⁷.

Then moisturize fast. NEA advises a thick layer of moisturizer all over the skin within three minutes of bathing⁸. The AAD favors a fragrance-free cream or ointment over a lotion⁶. Ointments have the most oil, while lotions are the lightest and least effective⁸. Moisturize at least once a day, after washing your hands and whenever skin starts to feel itchy or dry⁸.

For itchy days, an oatmeal soak is a gentle option. Colloidal oatmeal is oats ground so fine that they mix into bath water. NEA suggests about 1 cup in a standard-sized tub⁷. The AAD lists an oatmeal bath among its home remedies for itchy eczema: soak 10 to 15 minutes in lukewarm water, then moisturize within 3 minutes⁹.

Wet wraps are a step up for tough flares. After a soak and moisturizer, damp cotton layers go on the itchiest areas, with a dry layer on top¹⁰. NEA says the wraps can stay on for two hours or overnight¹⁰. Doctors usually suggest them for severe flares with intense itch, so check with yours before starting¹⁰.

Your clothes and your air count too. The AAD recommends loose-fitting, 100% cotton clothing, along with cotton towels and sheets⁶. Sweat can set off a flare, so dress to stay cool and comfortable⁶. A humidifier adds moisture to dry indoor air and may help you sleep⁵.

Your daily eczema care checklist

• One short bath or shower, 5 to 10 minutes, in lukewarm water⁶⁷

• A gentle cleanser free of fragrance and dyes, with no scrubbing⁷

• Pat dry, then put any prescribed medicine on flare spots as directed⁷

• A thick cream or ointment on the rest of the skin within 3 minutes⁸

• More moisturizer after handwashing and whenever skin feels dry or itchy⁸

• Loose, soft cotton clothing instead of scratchy fabrics²⁶

• Short nails, plus cotton gloves at night if scratching wakes you⁵

• A humidifier running when indoor air feels dry⁵

• A few minutes of deep breathing, meditation or a walk¹¹

• A quick note about any new product, food or stressor before a flare²

Plant oils and oatmeal with research behind them

Some of the most interesting eczema research looks at oils you may already know from the kitchen. The best studied ones support the skin barrier and help it hold water¹²¹³.

Virgin coconut oil has some of the strongest results. A double-blind trial published in 2014 in the International Journal of Dermatology included 117 children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis¹². For 8 weeks, they used either virgin coconut oil or mineral oil on their skin¹². Eczema severity scores improved by 68% in the coconut oil group, compared with 38% in the mineral oil group¹². Nearly half of the coconut oil group (46%) had an excellent response, versus 19% of the mineral oil group¹². Children using coconut oil also lost less water through their skin and had better skin hydration readings¹².

Sunflower seed oil is another research favorite. Its main fat, linoleic acid, is thought to support a healthy inflammatory response in the skin¹³. In a small randomized study of 19 adults with and without atopic dermatitis, sunflower seed oil kept the outer skin layer intact and improved skin hydration¹³. That study also tested olive oil, and sunflower seed oil came out as the better pick for the skin barrier¹³. Keep the olive oil in the kitchen.

Colloidal oatmeal rounds out the list. Both NEA and the AAD include oatmeal baths in their advice for itchy, eczema-prone skin⁷⁹.

A few smart habits help oils work well. Test any new product on a pea-sized spot on your wrist or the crook of your elbow first⁸. Choose fragrance-free versions, since fragrance is a common trigger². The library’s article on patch testing walks through this step in detail.

Probiotics, vitamin D and food: what nutrition research shows

Researchers are exploring links between the gut and the skin, and that work has made probiotics a busy area of eczema research. Probiotics are live microbes, like those in yogurt, that support a healthy gut.

Much of the work focuses on the earliest months of life. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) describes a 2018 analysis of 27 randomized trials and one cohort study, covering 6,907 infants and children¹⁵. Probiotics were given during pregnancy, after birth or both. About 29 in 100 children in the probiotic groups developed atopic dermatitis, compared with about 35 in 100 in the comparison groups¹⁵. Starting during pregnancy and continuing after birth gave the clearest results¹⁵.

Children who already have eczema have been studied too. In a review of 13 trials with 1,070 young people, those who took probiotics for 4 to 8 weeks scored better on an eczema severity scale¹⁵. The gains showed up in children ages 1 to 18 rather than in babies under 1, and Lactobacillus fermentum and multi-strain mixes stood out¹⁵. NCCIH is the federal center for complementary health research. It sums up the findings this way: probiotics “may be effective for some, but not all, children with atopic dermatitis”¹⁴.

Results vary from study to study, and researchers are still working out the best strains, timing and doses. Expert groups have not yet settled on routine probiotic use for babies, so this is a good topic for your pediatrician. One smart use point: the FDA has raised concerns about giving probiotics to babies born preterm, so their care team should guide any use¹⁵. For babies at high risk of eczema, the AAD also notes that regular moisturizer on the skin may make eczema less likely¹⁷.

Vitamin D is the other nutrient with a growing eczema file. Researchers have looked closely at children whose eczema gets worse in winter¹³. One randomized, double-blind winter trial enrolled 107 children with atopic dermatitis in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia¹³. Children who took vitamin D saw more improvement than those who took a placebo¹³. NCCIH also points to a 2019 analysis of 16 studies that found vitamin D supplementation showed “clinically relevant improvements” in people with atopic dermatitis¹⁴.

For daily needs, ODS lists 600 IU (15 mcg) a day for most people ages 1 to 70, 800 IU for adults over 70 and 400 IU for babies¹⁶. The upper limit is 4,000 IU a day for adults and children 9 and older, and smaller for younger kids¹⁶. Fortified milk, fatty fish like salmon and trout, and egg yolks all add vitamin D¹⁶.

What about food? NEA notes that food is rarely the root cause of eczema¹⁸. It does not advise cutting out foods on your own, because elimination diets come with risks, including a higher chance of developing food allergies¹⁸. If you suspect a food, bring it to your doctor or an allergist first. For everyday eating, NEA points to a pattern built mostly on plant foods and vegetables, with some fish and meat¹⁸.

Natural and supplement research at a glance

Approach	How it’s used	What research found	Amount or timing studied
Colloidal oatmeal	Added to a lukewarm bath	Part of NEA and AAD home care advice for itchy skin	About 1 cup per tub; soak 10 to 15 minutes
Virgin coconut oil	Applied to skin	117 children: scores improved 68% vs. 38% with mineral oil	8 weeks
Sunflower seed oil	Applied to skin	19 adults: outer skin layer stayed intact, hydration improved	Studied in adults with and without eczema
Probiotics	Taken by mouth	13 trials: better severity scores in kids ages 1 to 18	4 to 8 weeks
Vitamin D	Taken by mouth	Winter trial of 107 children: more improvement than placebo	Daily need: 600 IU for ages 1 to 70

Sources:^7912131516

Calm mind, calmer skin

Stress and eczema feed each other. NEA says anxiety and stress are common triggers that can set off flares, which then create even more stress¹¹. Under stress the body makes more adrenaline and cortisol, and stress can activate itch nerve fibers in the skin¹¹. The AAD agrees that stress can cause eczema to flare⁹.

That makes calming habits part of skin care. NEA recommends mindful meditation and deep breathing as part of self-care¹¹. It calls exercise one of the most effective ways to ease stress and suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week¹¹. If sweat bothers your skin, rinse off with a cool or lukewarm shower afterward¹¹.

Sleep deserves the same attention. NEA suggests a bath before bed, moisturizer to head off nighttime itch, and no screens for one to two hours before bedtime¹¹. Connecting with others helps too. NEA notes that a support group surrounds you with people who understand what you are going through¹¹.

Smart use of supplements and natural products

Natural care works best when it is planned. These habits help you get the most from it.

1. Match the studies. Children in the probiotic review above took probiotics for 4 to 8 weeks, and the coconut oil trial ran 8 weeks¹²¹⁵. For vitamin D, stay close to the ODS daily amounts unless your care team suggests otherwise¹⁶.

2. Give it time. Plan on 8 to 12 weeks of steady use before you judge how a new routine is working.

3. Look for quality seals. Third-party seals such as USP Verified, NSF Certified for Sport and ConsumerLab approved show that a product was tested. They confirm it contains what the label says.

4. Keep topicals gentle. Choose fragrance-free options and test each new one on a small patch of skin first²⁸.

5. Keep your care team in the loop. Share your full list of supplements and skin products so everything fits with your prescribed plan. Keep using the medicines your doctor prescribes, and let natural care work alongside them.

6. Know when to call. Scratching can open the door to skin infections, and eczema can cost you sleep³. If a patch looks infected or flares keep you up at night, check in with your doctor.

The bottom line

Eczema is common, and it starts with a skin barrier that needs extra support. The most reliable daily habits are also the most natural ones. Think short lukewarm baths, a thick fragrance-free moisturizer right after, and soft cotton. Add a humidifier in dry weather and steady ways to unwind.

Research on natural approaches keeps growing. Virgin coconut oil and sunflower seed oil have encouraging skin barrier studies behind them, and oatmeal baths are a staple of dermatologist advice. Probiotics and vitamin D are also showing promise, and researchers are building on these results.

Pair these steps with the plan you build with your doctor, give each change a fair trial, and keep your care team in the loop. Calm, comfortable skin is a daily practice, and small steps add up.

Sources

1. National Eczema Association. Eczema Facts. National Eczema Association. 2025. nationaleczema.org

2. National Eczema Association. Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): Symptoms, Causes and Treatment. National Eczema Association. 2026. nationaleczema.org

3. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Atopic Dermatitis. National Institutes of Health. Accessed 2026. niams.nih.gov

4. Leung DYM, Berdyshev E, Goleva E. Cutaneous Barrier Dysfunction in Allergic Diseases. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2020. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

5. National Eczema Association. Ways to Relieve Itch from Eczema. National Eczema Association. 2025. nationaleczema.org

6. American Academy of Dermatology. Eczema Types: Atopic Dermatitis Skin Care. American Academy of Dermatology. 2023. aad.org

7. National Eczema Association. Bathing and Eczema. National Eczema Association. 2025. nationaleczema.org

8. National Eczema Association. Moisturizing for Eczema. National Eczema Association. 2025. nationaleczema.org

9. American Academy of Dermatology. Home Remedies: What Can Relieve Itchy Eczema? American Academy of Dermatology. 2026. aad.org

10. National Eczema Association. Wet Wrap Therapy. National Eczema Association. 2025. nationaleczema.org

11. National Eczema Association. Managing Stress from Eczema. National Eczema Association. 2025. nationaleczema.org

12. Evangelista MTP, Abad-Casintahan F, Lopez-Villafuerte L. The Effect of Topical Virgin Coconut Oil on SCORAD Index, Transepidermal Water Loss, and Skin Capacitance in Mild to Moderate Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial. International Journal of Dermatology. 2014. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

13. Goddard AL, Lio PA. Alternative, Complementary, and Forgotten Remedies for Atopic Dermatitis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

14. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Skin Conditions and Complementary Health Approaches. NCCIH Clinical Digest. 2021. nccih.nih.gov

15. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Probiotics: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health. 2025. ods.od.nih.gov

16. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D: Fact Sheet for Consumers. National Institutes of Health. 2022. ods.od.nih.gov

17. American Academy of Dermatology. Eczema Types: Atopic Dermatitis Overview. American Academy of Dermatology. 2026. aad.org

18. National Eczema Association. Diet and Nutrition for Eczema: What to Eat and Avoid. National Eczema Association. 2025. nationaleczema.org

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare professional about your own health, especially before starting a new supplement if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medicine, or managing a health condition. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Reviewed October 2026.