Microbes in eczema interact with the skin barrier and immune inflammation; they are not the single cause of the condition. Understanding that relationship explains why researchers study sodium hypochlorite cleansers—and why everyday care should support your skin, not try to sterilize it.

Why Your Skin's Microbes Matter

If you have eczema, hearing that bacteria live on your skin can sound alarming. But healthy skin has microbes too. Their presence alone does not mean you are unclean, contagious, or doing something wrong.

Our guide to little-known facts about eczema explains why the condition is more than dry skin. Here, the focus is the community of organisms on the surface—and how it connects to cleansing, inflammation, and everyday comfort.

Throughout this article, eczema primarily means atopic dermatitis, its most common form. Other forms of eczema and other itchy rashes can need different care. Microbiome science cannot replace an individual diagnosis.

What Role Do Microbes Play in Eczema?

Your skin hosts bacteria, fungi, and other microscopic organisms. This community, together with its genes and surrounding environment, is commonly called the skin microbiome.

Some resident organisms help defend the surface by competing with potential pathogens for space and nutrients. Others can contribute to problems under particular conditions. The distinction is more complicated than dividing all microbes into good and bad categories.

In atopic dermatitis, the skin barrier is less effective, inflammation is active, and the surface environment changes. These changes can favor certain organisms, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, often shortened to S. aureus or called staph.

Term	What it means	What it does not mean
Skin microbiome	The microbial community and its environment	A layer of dirt to remove
Dysbiosis	A disruption in the microbial community	Proof of an infection
Colonization	An organism is present and living on the skin	Automatic need for antibiotics
Infection	Microbes are causing a clinically significant illness	Something a cleanser can diagnose

Eczema care is not a campaign against every microbe. It addresses barrier weakness, inflammation, and infection when infection is actually present.

Why Does Staphylococcus aureus Get So Much Attention?

S. aureus can live on the skin or in the nose without causing an obvious infection. In people with atopic dermatitis, it is frequently found on eczema-affected skin and is associated with disease activity.

A systematic review published online in 2024 included 26 studies, covering 2,670 children with atopic dermatitis and 1,224 controls. The pooled estimate for S. aureus colonization on eczema-affected skin was 55%, with a wide 95% confidence interval of 38.3%–71.7%.

That figure needs context. The review rated the certainty of this outcome as very low because of observational study designs, inconsistency, and other limitations. It describes colonization in the studied pediatric populations—not an infection rate or a diagnosis for your child.

A 2020 review of the skin microbiome also describes how greater S. aureus abundance and reduced bacterial diversity often accompany more severe disease. However, patterns vary by age, body site, and study method.

The practical point is not that everyone with eczema has the same bacterial problem. S. aureus matters because it can participate in a cycle of inflammation and barrier damage—not because its presence proves that skin needs stronger washing.

How the Skin Barrier, Inflammation, and Microbes Interact

The skin barrier helps hold water in and limit exposure to irritants. When its structure and function are disrupted, skin becomes dry and more vulnerable. Changes in surface chemistry can also affect which organisms thrive.

Some S. aureus strains produce substances that can aggravate inflammation and damage the barrier. At the same time, an inflamed, disrupted barrier can make colonization easier. Scratching adds another source of physical damage.

This creates a reinforcing cycle:

• Barrier weakness makes the skin easier to irritate.
• Inflammation changes the skin environment.
• Certain microbes can contribute to further inflammation.
• Itching and scratching create additional damage.

Research supports these interactions, but it does not mean one bacterium explains every flare. Genetics, immune activity, irritants, and other exposures remain important.

It also explains why prescribed anti-inflammatory treatment and moisturizing still matter in an article about microbes. Addressing the skin environment is broader than attempting to reduce bacterial counts.

Does Finding Bacteria Mean Eczema Is Infected?

No. Colonization and infection are different. A person can carry S. aureus without needing treatment for an infection.

NICE's guidance on secondary bacterial infection of eczema explicitly notes that eczema is often colonized but not clinically infected. It also cautions that not every flare responds to antibiotics, even when weeping or crusting is present.

That distinction requires clinical judgment. Do not use a photograph, a product claim, or the fact that a study found bacteria to decide that you need antibiotics.

Contact a healthcare professional if the skin becomes increasingly painful, hot, swollen, rapidly worse, or develops pus. Fever or feeling unwell adds urgency. A clinician can assess whether you need infection treatment, a change in eczema treatment, or another diagnosis.

Why Is Sodium Hypochlorite Studied in Eczema Care?

Sodium hypochlorite, abbreviated NaOCl, has been studied in dilute bathing preparations and finished cleansers as an addition to eczema care. Interest partly comes from the association between S. aureus and atopic dermatitis.

Its role is not as simple as “kill bacteria and eczema disappears.” At the dilute concentrations studied, clinical improvement has sometimes occurred without eliminating S. aureus colonization. Researchers have therefore explored effects beyond direct antimicrobial action, including possible effects on inflammation.

That makes the ingredient scientifically interesting, but it does not establish that every formula containing it works the same way. Concentration, formulation, contact time, skin condition, and use instructions all matter.

A formulated sodium hypochlorite wash, a prescribed bleach-bath routine, and a household cleaning product are not interchangeable. Never put household bleach directly on skin or mix it into body wash.

What Did the Pediatric Sodium Hypochlorite Wash Study Find?

A 2019 study followed 50 evaluable participants ages six months to 17 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and confirmed S. aureus colonization. They used a body wash containing 0.006% sodium hypochlorite daily for six weeks, while continuing their existing eczema medications.

Measures of eczema severity, affected body area, itching, and quality of life improved compared with baseline. However, 32 of the 50 participants—64%—still had positive S. aureus cultures at two weeks.

That finding matters. Improvement did not require complete bacterial clearance, so the results do not support describing the wash as sterilizing skin or eradicating staph.

What Are the Study's Limits?

The study was open-label: participants and investigators knew what was being used. It had no blinded control group, and existing medications continued. The product manufacturer provided financial support and study supplies.

Those limitations mean the study cannot isolate how much improvement came from the cleanser rather than ongoing treatment or other influences. Active clinical infections judged to require systemic antibiotics were excluded, so this was not evidence that a wash can replace infection treatment.

Study detail	Supported interpretation	Unsupported conclusion
50 evaluable participants	Useful preliminary pediatric evidence	Guaranteed benefit for every child
Six-week follow-up	Short-term outcomes were assessed	Permanent flare prevention
Existing medication continued	The wash was studied as additional care	Medication can be stopped
64% remained culture-positive at two weeks	Improvement occurred despite persistent colonization	The wash eliminated S. aureus

The tested product was not Rejûvaskin Eczema Body Wash. Its concentration and results must not be transferred to another formula.

How Does This Relate to Rejûvaskin Eczema Body Wash?

Rejûvaskin Eczema Body Wash combines 2% colloidal oatmeal with sodium hypochlorite in a gentle rinse-off cleanser for dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin. The oatmeal supports the formula's soothing and moisturizing positioning; sodium hypochlorite connects it to an ingredient category studied in eczema cleansing.

The 2% figure refers to colloidal oatmeal, not sodium hypochlorite. It should not be confused with the 0.006% sodium hypochlorite concentration used in the pediatric study.

This distinction keeps the product story clear. Ingredient research helps explain formulation choices, but it does not establish that this finished wash reproduces another product's clinical outcomes or restores the microbiome to a defined healthy state.

Rejûvaskin Eczema Body Wash is a gentle-cleansing option for eczema-prone skin; Skin Recovery Cream provides complementary leave-on moisturizing care. Neither replaces prescribed treatment or medical assessment for infection.

Cleanse and Moisturize: Two Different Jobs

A microbe-focused routine should still protect skin comfort. Repeated scrubbing and adding multiple antibacterial products can create unnecessary irritation rather than solve the underlying eczema.

Product	Best fit	Role	Important limitation
Rejûvaskin Eczema Body Wash	Gentle rinse-off cleansing	Combines 2% colloidal oatmeal with sodium hypochlorite for dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin	Does not replace moisturizer or infection treatment
Rejûvaskin Skin Recovery Cream	Leave-on moisturizing	Helps soothe, nourish, and moisturize dry, sensitive skin	Is not a treatment for bacterial infection

Use the body wash according to its current package directions and rinse thoroughly. Pat dry gently, then follow with suitable moisturizing care, including Skin Recovery Cream where appropriate.

If you use prescribed topical medication, follow your clinician's instructions on application order. Do not mix medication into a cleanser or change its use because you have added a new wash.

For infants, extensive broken skin, recurrent infections, or severe eczema, ask the clinician which cleansing approach fits the treatment plan.

What Should You Avoid in a Microbe-Focused Routine?

Start with a clear purpose rather than collecting products that promise microbial control. A long ingredient list or an antibacterial claim cannot tell you whether a product suits your particular skin.

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Trying to sterilize skin. Normal skin hosts microbes; removing every organism is not a daily-care goal.
• Copying study instructions onto another product. Use your own product's directions, not a research protocol for a different wash.
• Using leftover antibiotics. A clinician should decide whether an infection requires treatment.
• Making a homemade bleach cleanser. Household bleach must not be applied directly or mixed with skincare products.
• Stopping prescribed treatment. Microbial research does not remove the need to manage inflammation.

If an ingredient causes persistent burning, swelling, hives, or worsening symptoms, stop using the product and seek advice. Natural ingredients can cause reactions too; avoid oat-containing products if you have a known oat allergy.

When Does Eczema Need Urgent Medical Care?

Seek prompt assessment for rapidly worsening eczema, increasing pain, swelling, pus, fever, or feeling generally unwell. A cleanser is not an appropriate substitute while a possible infection progresses.

Clusters of painful blisters or punched-out sores can indicate eczema herpeticum, a potentially serious herpes simplex infection. Seek urgent medical care, especially with fever, rapid spread, or involvement near the eyes.

An eczema diagnosis does not explain every new skin change. Tell the clinician what is different from your usual flares and bring a list of current products and medications.

FAQ

One Last Thing

One of the most useful findings in the wash research is what did not happen: bacterial colonization did not disappear in many participants, even though symptoms improved. That is a reminder to judge eczema care by the whole clinical picture—not by the promise of germ-free skin.

Aim for comfortable cleansing, consistent moisturizing, and a treatment plan that addresses inflammation. Let a clinician decide when infection needs a separate response.

This article provides general education, not a diagnosis or individualized medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about eczema symptoms, product suitability, or suspected infection.

Sources

• Edslev and colleagues: Skin Microbiome in Atopic Dermatitis. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2020; review of microbial communities, barrier function, and inflammation.
• Sangaphunchai and colleagues: S. aureus Colonization and Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis. Published online in 2024; systematic review of 26 studies, with important evidence-quality limitations.
• Majewski and colleagues: Sodium Hypochlorite Body Wash in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis. Pediatric Dermatology, 2019; manufacturer-supported, six-week open-label study of a different finished wash.
• NICE NG190: Secondary Bacterial Infection of Eczema. Guidance published in 2021; colonization, infection assessment, and antibiotic decision-making, accessed October 2026.
• DermNet: Eczema Herpeticum. Clinical signs and need for urgent assessment, accessed October 2026.

Related Guides

• What to Look for in a Safe Eczema Body Wash