Wet Wrapping for Eczema: How It Works, When to Use It & Where to Buy in Australia

Wet wrapping involves applying moisturiser or a prescribed topical treatment to inflamed skin, then covering it with a damp inner layer of fabric and a dry outer layer on top. The combination creates a sealed, humid microenvironment around the skin that does several things simultaneously:

• Locks moisture into the skin barrier, reversing the transepidermal water loss that drives eczema inflammation
• Enhances the absorption of whatever you have applied underneath — emollient or topical steroid — by holding it in contact with the skin for an extended period
• Reduces the skin temperature at the flare site, which directly reduces histamine-driven itch
• Creates a physical barrier between the child's hands and the flare, interrupting the itch-scratch cycle while the skin calms

The clinical evidence behind wet wrapping is reasonably strong for short-term use. Multiple studies and systematic reviews have shown that wet wrap therapy (WWT) is associated with significant reductions in eczema severity scores within days when used alongside appropriate topical treatments. It is recommended by dermatology associations in Australia, the UK, and the US as a management approach for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis flares.

It is worth understanding that wet wrapping does not treat the underlying cause of eczema. It is a management tool for acute flares — not a substitute for identifying and addressing triggers. Our article on why kids scratch more at night covers the itch-scratch cycle in detail and helps explain why interrupting that cycle matters so much in severe flares.

Wet wrapping is an intensive technique best suited to specific situations. It is not something to use as a daily maintenance approach.

When to use it

• During a moderate to severe eczema flare that is not responding to regular moisturising
• When your child's sleep is significantly disrupted by overnight scratching
• As directed by a GP, dermatologist, or paediatric nurse as part of a treatment plan
• Short-term: typically 2–7 days, not as an ongoing daily approach

When not to use it

• If the skin has any open wounds, broken skin, or signs of active infection — wet wrapping over infected skin can worsen and spread the infection
• Over skin that has not been assessed by a health professional if you suspect infection — look for weeping, crusting with a honey-coloured appearance, increased warmth and redness, or your child developing a fever
• If you are unsure whether the underlying treatment (particularly topical steroids) is appropriate — wet wrapping amplifies absorption of everything it sits over

If in doubt, call your GP or paediatric nurse before attempting wet wrapping for the first time. Most practices are happy to walk parents through it by phone, and some dermatology units offer specific wet wrap instruction appointments.

Once you have confirmed it is appropriate for your child's current flare, here is the standard process:

1. Bathe your child in lukewarm water for 10–15 minutes. This hydrates the skin before wrapping. Use a gentle, soap-free wash and avoid scrubbing. Pat (do not rub) dry.
2. Apply your prescribed treatment or emollient immediately — within 3 minutes of bathing, while the skin is still slightly damp. For a general flare without active prescription, a thick, fragrance-free emollient is appropriate. If a topical steroid has been prescribed, apply it to the affected areas first and then emollient over the top.
3. Dampen the inner layer. Use warm water — not cold. The wrapping should feel comfortably warm and damp against the skin, not cold and wet. Wring it out well so it is damp rather than dripping.
4. Apply the damp inner layer over the treated skin. For limb-specific flares, damp tubular bandages or purpose-designed eczema sleepwear work well. For more widespread flares, a damp onesie or pyjama set can be used.
5. Apply the dry outer layer directly over the damp layer. This can be a dry pair of pyjamas, a dry bodysuit, or dry tubular bandages. The dry outer layer insulates and holds the moisture in.
6. Leave in place for 2–8 hours. Overnight application is common and convenient. Check on your child periodically — the wrap should remain damp and comfortable. If it dries out completely, it can be re-dampened without removing.
7. Remove and moisturise again. When you remove the wrapping, apply emollient again to the now-cooled skin. Do not use topical steroids at this second application unless your dermatologist has specifically instructed this.

This is often the most practical sticking point. Families are told to wet wrap but not where to find suitable materials. Here is what works and where to find it in Australia.

Tubular bandages (Tubifast or similar)

Purpose-designed eczema tubular bandages — Tubifast is the most widely known brand — are the clinical standard for wet wrapping. They are available in different widths to fit arms, legs, and torso at various ages. In Australia, you can purchase these from:

• Pharmacy chains — Chemist Warehouse and Priceline stock Tubifast in varying sizes; ask at the dispensary counter if they are not on the shelf
• Independent pharmacies — often able to order if not in stock
• Online — search 'Tubifast Australia' for direct retail options
• Through hospital dermatology units — if your child is under the care of a paediatric dermatologist, bandages are sometimes supplied or recommended with specific sizing

Bamboo eczema sleepwear as the inner layer

For whole-body or trunk flares — or for parents who want an alternative to clinical bandaging that is easier to apply and more comfortable for children — purpose-designed eczema sleepwear can serve as the wet inner layer.

Bamboo fabric is particularly well-suited to wet wrapping because it holds moisture against the skin gently, does not constrict, and is soft enough that most eczema-sensitive children tolerate it well even during a flare. The Bamboo Bubby eczema pyjamas are flat-seamed and tagless — important details when the skin underneath is inflamed and any friction point becomes a scratch trigger. Dampen the pyjamas in warm water, wring thoroughly, dress your child, then place dry pyjamas or a lightweight layer on top.

For babies, the bamboo bodysuit for sensitive skin works the same way for smaller body areas — dampen the bodysuit, dress over the treated skin, and add a dry layer on top.

What to avoid

• Standard cotton singlets or pyjamas not designed for eczema — the dye, fabric treatment, or seam placement can worsen irritation against inflamed skin
• Synthetic fabric inner layers — polyester and blends trap heat and don't release moisture appropriately for wet wrapping
• Any fabric with elastane against inflamed skin — the compression can increase irritation

• Using cold water for the inner wrap. Cold water causes temperature shock on inflamed skin and can itself trigger itch. The wrap should be comfortably warm — similar to a warm bathwater temperature.
• Making the inner layer too wet. Dripping wet is uncomfortable and can cause the outer dry layer to saturate quickly. Damp — not soaking — is the goal.
• Applying wet wraps over potentially infected skin. If the skin looks honey-crusted, has increased warmth or swelling beyond what is typical for the flare, or your child has a fever, stop and see a doctor. Wet wrapping over infected skin can accelerate the spread of infection.
• Using synthetic fabric as the inner layer. It needs to hold moisture against the skin without creating friction or trapping heat. Natural fibres — bamboo or 100% cotton designed for eczema — are the right choice.
• Continuing wet wrapping for longer than your dermatologist recommends. Overuse of wet wrapping over high-potency topical steroids can cause steroid-related side effects. Short courses (2–7 days) are standard.

Wet wrapping is a useful tool, but it is not a substitute for medical assessment when the situation warrants it. See your GP or seek urgent care if:

• The skin shows signs of infection (weeping with honey-coloured crusting, increasing redness or warmth beyond the flare, your child develops a fever)
• The flare is not responding after 48–72 hours of consistent wet wrapping
• Your child seems increasingly distressed, is not sleeping at all, or is not feeding/eating normally
• You are uncertain about the right treatment to use under the wrap

If you are managing a severe flare and wet wrapping is part of your approach, these resources will help with the broader picture:

• Complete Guide to Eczema-Friendly Clothing — the full pillar resource for what your child wears day and night
• Best sleepwear for babies with eczema — what to look for in fabric, fit, and design during a flare
• How eczema sleeves work — scratch protection to use alongside or after wet wrapping
• Eczema and sleep deprivation: the cycle — why resolving the flare quickly matters for the whole family
• Hypoallergenic laundry for eczema families — how to wash wet wrapping materials without re-triggering a flare