How Can Wet Wrap Therapy Help Psoriasis?

With all topical treatments for psoriasis, the goal is to soothe, hydrate, and help heal the skin. This is also the theory behind wet wrapping, a technique used to relieve moderate to severe flare-ups of eczema or psoriasis. Wet wrap therapy is a process of covering the skin with a topical treatment, a layer of moistened gauze or clothing, and then a dry layer such as an ace bandage.

The American Academy of Dermatology supports wet wrapping as a treatment for eczema. But wet wrapping can help people with different forms of psoriasis, too, says Rhonda Q. Klein, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and co-owner of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Connecticut.

“This treatment can be very effective at hydrating and soothing inflammation and discomfort on the skin, as well as optimizing the penetration of your topical corticosteroid,” Klein says.