Part of the Eczema Resource Center.
Quick answer: Atopic dermatitis care combines daily skin care with treatment for active inflammation. Gentle cleansing and regular moisturizing support the skin barrier; a written plan explains which medicine to use, where to apply it and when to seek a review.
The diagnosis behind the care plan
Atopic dermatitis is a recurring inflammatory type of eczema. This guide focuses on daily care and treatment after the diagnosis has been established. A new or changing rash may require a different plan.
For recognition, use Eczema Symptoms and Pictures. For terminology and testing, see atopic dermatitis, atopy and atopic-prone skin. DermNet’s atopic dermatitis overview1 provides additional clinical background.
Daily cleansing and moisturizing
Keep the basic routine consistent even when the skin looks better. The AAD recommends gentle washing and regular moisturizing2 as part of ongoing care.
| When | What to do | What it helps with |
|---|---|---|
| Bath or shower | Use warm water for about 5–10 minutes. Gently cleanse where needed, then rinse well. | Cleaning without prolonged hot water, scrubbing or friction. |
| After washing | Pat gently and apply a fragrance-free cream or ointment while skin is still slightly damp. | Retaining moisture after water exposure. |
| Morning and evening | Reapply moisturizer to dry areas, and after handwashing when needed. | Keeping dry skin more comfortable between washes. |
| During a flare | Continue basic care and use the anti-inflammatory medicine in your treatment plan. | Addressing active inflammation as well as dryness. |
Choosing tolerated skin-care products
Choose a fragrance-free cleanser and a moisturizer that leaves the skin comfortable. A cream or ointment is a practical starting point for persistent dryness. Our eczema moisturizer guide explains texture and ingredient choices.
For a simple daily routine, Happy Cappy Daily Shampoo & Body Wash provides gentle cleansing, and Happy Cappy Moisturizing Cream helps retain moisture in dry, sensitive skin. See the two-step routine below for product benefits and use.
A written plan for eczema flares
A flare may mean more itching, roughness, swelling, cracking or weeping. Do not wait for the skin to look bright red before recognizing a change, especially on darker skin.
Ask the prescriber to put these details in writing:
- Where: which medicine goes on the face, body, hands or folds.
- How much and how often: ask for a demonstration if the amount is unclear.
- How long: when to stop, reduce use or move to the maintenance plan.
- What comes next: how soon improvement is expected and when to contact the office.
Some people need a clinician-directed maintenance medicine on areas that flare repeatedly, even after the skin improves. That decision belongs in the plan, rather than being left to guesswork. Our eczema flare guide goes into more detail.
A cool compress may make itch easier to tolerate. Keep nails short and avoid picking or scrubbing irritated skin. Use wet wraps only with instructions from your clinician, especially when a prescription medicine will be covered.
Atopic dermatitis treatment options
Medicines applied to the skin
Topical corticosteroids reduce eczema inflammation and itch. The strength and duration should fit the person’s age and the body area. A medicine intended for thick skin on the hands may be inappropriate for eyelids or folds. The AAD’s corticosteroid guide3 explains why using the prescribed amount and schedule matters.
Prescription nonsteroid options include tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, crisaborole, ruxolitinib, roflumilast and tapinarof. They work in different ways and have different age limits, indications and precautions. A prescriber can choose an appropriate option for the location and severity of the eczema.
Treatment for persistent or severe symptoms
Persistent eczema may need dermatologist-directed light therapy or a medicine that works throughout the body, such as a biologic injection or an oral treatment. Choices depend on age, severity, health history and the balance of benefits and risks.
The AAD’s treatment overview4 describes the range of options. Our itchy-skin treatment guide also explains newer and established eczema medicines. Ask about a different plan if repeated flares are disrupting sleep, school or work; the amount of visible rash is only part of the problem.
Happy Cappy’s Two-Step Routine for Eczema-Prone Skin
Developed by pediatrician Dr. Eddie Valenzuela, Happy Cappy pairs gentle cleansing with daily moisture for babies, children and adults with dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin. Use this two-step routine alongside any eczema medicines in your care plan.
Daily Wash provides fragrance-free cleansing without SLS/SLES. Glycerin, panthenol and hyaluronic acid attract water, while oat and aloe help condition the skin. The Cream combines glycerin to attract moisture with petrolatum to help retain it, in a lightweight, non-greasy formula.
Choose one two-item bundle: one 8 oz Daily Wash plus one Cream tube or one Cream pump jar.
Tube bundle
Daily Wash + Cream Tube
- One 8 oz Daily Wash. Gentle cleansing for dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin.
- One 6 oz Moisturizing Cream. Leave-on moisture in a squeeze tube.
- Choose your format. A compact squeeze tube for everyday moisturizing.
Pump-jar bundle
Daily Wash + Cream Jar
- One 8 oz Daily Wash. Gentle cleansing for dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin.
- One 12 oz Moisturizing Cream. Leave-on moisture in a pump jar.
- Choose your format. A larger pump jar for a regular home routine.
Use the two-step routine: Use Daily Wash daily or as often as needed, lather gently and rinse well. Apply Cream after washing and at least twice daily while skin is still slightly damp.
Care by age
Babies
Have a new infant rash assessed before treating it as eczema. Once the diagnosis is clear, keep the routine simple and get instructions for medicines used on the face or beneath clothing and diapers. Do not borrow an adult’s prescription. Breast milk applied to the skin should not replace a baby’s eczema treatment plan. See baby eczema treatment for a more detailed age-specific guide.
Children and teens
Make the routine understandable to everyone helping with care. Write down which products and medicines belong at home or school, and give older children a role in applying them. Ask about night waking, concentration, sports and embarrassment as well as the rash.
Adults
Consider exposures that are hard to avoid, such as frequent handwashing, wet work, gloves or personal-care products. A persistent eyelid or hand rash may need a review for contact dermatitis. New eczema-like symptoms in adulthood should not automatically be attributed to childhood eczema without an examination.
Reducing repeat flares
For someone who already has atopic dermatitis, the goal is to reduce repeat flares. That is different from preventing eczema from developing in the first place. Even careful daily care cannot guarantee that eczema will never return. Focus on a routine you can sustain and a clear treatment plan for breakthrough symptoms.4,6
Everyday ways to reduce irritation
- Keep moisturizing between flares, including after handwashing when your hands become dry.
- Adjust layers when you feel too warm and change out of damp clothing after sweating. Choose soft, comfortable fabrics and check for rubbing seams or tags.
- Use fragrance-free skin-care and laundry products that you tolerate. Wash new clothing before wearing it, and change one product at a time if you are trying to identify irritation.
These habits support the daily-care plan. If the same areas keep flaring, ask whether the plan needs adjustment, including whether a prescribed maintenance treatment belongs in the routine.4,6
Recognizing your own patterns
Heat, sweat, friction, irritating products, dry weather and stress can aggravate symptoms for some people. Your pattern may be different. Keep brief notes about repeated flares and change one manageable exposure at a time, rather than replacing everything at once.
The word atopic does not mean that every flare is an allergy. Do not use broad food restrictions as a routine eczema treatment. A repeated reaction to a particular food, poor growth in a child or eczema that remains difficult to control can justify a discussion about targeted testing. Learn more about when allergy testing helps.
Signs that need medical care
Contact the clinician promptly for increasing pain, warmth, swelling, pus or rapidly worsening skin, especially with fever or feeling unwell. These can be signs of infection rather than an ordinary flare.
Seek urgent same-day care for clusters of painful blisters or small open sores that spread quickly, particularly with fever or near the eyes. One possible cause is eczema herpeticum, an infection that needs prompt treatment. DermNet’s eczema herpeticum guide5 explains the warning signs.
Also arrange follow-up when itch repeatedly interrupts sleep, a child is struggling to feed or grow, or the agreed treatment is not helping. You do not need to wait for a severe-looking rash to ask for better control.
Follow-up and long-term control
Bring the actual medicine tubes or a list of names and strengths. Note how often you used them, whether anything stung, and how many nights sleep was disturbed. Photos can show a flare that has settled before the visit.
Ask what to continue, what to change and when to check back. The next step may be simpler application instructions, a different topical medicine, investigation of another diagnosis or a discussion of broader treatment. A plan that fits daily life is easier to sustain.
Symptoms can change over time
Some children improve substantially as they grow, while others have recurring symptoms into adulthood. There is no guaranteed permanent cure. Long periods of clearer skin are possible, and the care plan can change as symptoms and daily needs change.