Wet Wraps at Home
1. Your doctor has recommended:____________________________________
2. The wet wrap procedure is to be done: ______________________________
3. The wet wraps are done to decrease the inflammation in the skin, hydrate the skin, and provide a cooling effect to the skin as well as to prevent you from scratching.
4. First, hydrate the skin by soaking in warm (not hot) water for 5-10 minutes at the most.
5. After the bath, pat off excess water from the skin and apply the prescribed medicine to the damp skin, using downward strokes. This should be done within 2-5 minutes after soaking.
6. Do not use extra medicine. More is not better. Use about one teaspoon of ointment for each arm and for each side of the trunk. Use about two teaspoons of medicine for each leg.
7. Immediately after the medicine is applied to the skin, put on the moistened, 100% cotton, tightly fitted, long underwear suit. The long underwear should be immersed in warm water, wrung out, and put in drier for a few minutes so that it is damp but not dripping wet. It is important that this layer hold the moisture for 2-6 hours. If it begins to dry out, wet it again (optional).
8. Next, apply a dry, 100% cotton sweat suit over the moistened layer. This layer is to prevent the wet layer from drying out and your child from catching cold.
9. If hands or feet are involved, wet, white, cotton socks may be used for the feet and wet Dermpak® gauze gloves may be used for the hands. You may buy the gloves at a drugstore.
10. You may become chilled while wearing the wet wraps so use extra blankets for warmth.
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UW Dermatology Department 1 S. Park St 7th Floor Madison, WI 53715 Clinic: 608 287-2450 |
American Family Children’s Hospital Pediatric Dermatology Specialty Clinic 1675 Highland Ave. Madison, WI 53792 Clinic: 608 263-6420 |
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 06/25/2010
Copyright © 06/25/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6493
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