Get Rid of Staph-Infected Eczema

Written by Abby McCoy, RN

Medically Reviewed by Stephanie S. Gardner, MD on August 19, 2026

Eczema causes itchiness and painful irritation on your skin that can make it easier for bacteria to cause an infection. When you have this skin condition, you may have a higher chance of getting one type of bacteria in particular: Staphylococcus aureus, often called “staph.”

Almost 80% of people with eczema have staph bacteria living on their skin. “I try to reassure my patients that this has nothing to do with hygiene and is in no way their fault,” says Alexis Young, MD, a dermatologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.

“While it is very frustrating to have these infections, our treatments are very effective at taking care of them, and treating the underlying eczema tends to make them less frequent,” says Jeffrey Cohen, MD, a dermatologist and associate professor at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. “When eczema is treated effectively, the skin barrier function improves, and infections are less likely to occur.”

You may have heard about the possibilities of bleach baths, antibiotics, or even probiotics for treating and preventing staph infections, and you may feel eager to try these options. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you try anything new. They can help you develop a personalized plan to get rid of staph and calm eczema symptoms safely.

The Magnetism Between Eczema and Staph

Eczema can act like a staph magnet for many reasons, including skin injuries, changes in your skin’s healthy bacteria (microbiome), and toxins that create excellent growing conditions for staph.

Compromised skin barrier

Your skin forms an important natural protective barrier against germs, but eczema can damage this defensive shield. Eczema weakens your skin barrier through:

Gene mutations. DNA changes in a gene called filaggrin make it easier for bacteria to get in through your skin.

Microbiome disruption. Eczema causes fewer good bacteria on your skin, leaving more room for staph, which can then push out even more good bacteria.

Less immune protection. People with eczema have fewer immune molecules on their skin that typically form a protective antibacterial layer.

High pH. Skin usually has a lower pH (slightly acidic), which helps it repel germs. But eczema increases pH, lessening that protection.

Itch-scratch cycle

Eczema can cause extreme itching, but scratching your skin to relieve the itch can let bacteria and viruses through, Young says. Once staph gets in, the infection can trigger an eczema flare.

Staph toxins

Staph makes waste products that collect on your skin and create excellent conditions for more staph to grow. These by-products can also make inflammation worse. As inflammation increases, your skin barrier can get weaker, letting in more bacteria.

Staph Colonization vs. Active Infection

Having staph on your skin doesn’t automatically mean it will cause an infection. In fact, about 20% of people without eczema have staph living on their skin, which is called “staph colonization.” And 60% have staph colonization that comes and goes.

Active infection happens when staph gets through the outer layer of your skin and causes inflammation, redness, and swelling.

Red Flag Symptoms of Staph-Infected Eczema

Eczema causes dry, itchy, red, scaly skin, but infected eczema can look and feel different. Staph-infected eczema can lead to symptoms such as:

Red, swollen, painful bumps on your skin
Open areas that look like cold sores
Pus-filled blisters
Crust on top of your eczema (honey, yellow, or orange color)
Red streaks on your skin
More severe itching
Burning pain on your skin
Swelling and skin color changes

If you have these symptoms, tell your doctor as soon as possible. These infections don’t get better on their own, but they respond well to treatment. “It is especially important to contact your dermatologist if you notice honey-colored crusting or white, milky discharge or if you have fevers, chills, or swollen lymph nodes,” Cohen says.

Treatments That Target Staph and Eczema

If you keep getting staph infections on your skin, your doctor may give you stronger treatments to lessen eczema symptoms, which can help, says JiaDe “Jeff” Yu, MD, a dermatologist and the chair of VCU Health’s Department of Dermatology in Richmond, Virginia.

Bacterial infections often get treated with antibiotics, or medicines that destroy bacteria. But using antibiotics too often can cause resistance, which means the bacteria learn how to survive the medication. Other options for treating staph infections with eczema include removing staph from your skin (decolonization), home remedies, and targeted therapies.

How hospital MRSA/staph decolonization and eradication works

If you get frequent staph infections with eczema, you may have heard about decolonization techniques from others with eczema or on internet message boards. “‘Decolonization’ refers to interventions that are designed to remove the staph bacteria from the skin,” Cohen says.

Some claim that if you can get rid of all the staph on your skin, you won’t get infections anymore. These claims are supported by the National Eczema Association and can involve the whole family.

“I typically reserve decolonization specifically for patients who are getting recurrent, symptomatic infections or who are known MRSA carriers continuously passing infections back and forth with their family members,” Young says.

Up to 30% of people with atopic dermatitis (the most common type of eczema) have MRSA — staph that resists treatment with an antibiotic called methicillin. But for recurring infections of any kind of staph, decolonization typically includes these steps:

Clean your skin with an antiseptic wash (you and your family).
Don’t share razors, towels, or clothing.
Apply antibiotic ointment to your skin for a short time as instructed by your doctor.

“We also recommend washing sheets in hot water to get rid of the bacteria,” Yu says. In the hospital, decolonization may include treatments in your nostrils, as staph likes to collect in there, too.

Home remedies

“The absolute best defense against staph is a well-moisturized, intact skin barrier,” Young says. You may feel tempted to scrub away the germs, but this can damage your skin more, Young says.

Instead, ask your doctor about these home remedies:

Dilute bleach baths. Bleach baths can help lower the amount of staph on your skin, and many experts recommend this eczema treatment. To prepare a dilute bleach bath, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of household bleach to a full bath (about 40 gallons of water). “The concentration of bleach is incredibly mild,” Young says. But hold off on this option if your skin is cracked, raw, or scratched, Young says.

Antiseptic washes. Washing with an antibacterial solution such as chlorhexidine can eliminate staph on your skin. These soap substitutes can cause skin irritation, so ask your doctor before trying it.

Hypochlorus acid sprays. As a gentle disinfectant, hypochlorous acid can destroy harmful bacteria on your skin without causing irritation or dryness.

Probiotics

Probiotics are living organisms that can grow in some foods but may also be added to foods, drinks, and supplement pills. You can even get probiotics for application directly to your skin.

Some studies suggest probiotic supplements taken by mouth may lessen eczema severity a little. But the evidence is slim. One small study found one oral probiotic lessened staph on the skin, but not in people with eczema.

“Current clinical guidelines do not recommend oral or topical probiotics for treating active staph infections or established eczema,” Young says. “The clinical evidence just isn’t strong enough yet to support their use as a medical treatment.”

You can still ask your doctor about taking probiotics. “If they want to try it, I don’t think there is any harm,” Yu says of his patients.

Advanced treatment options

If the treatments above don’t eliminate infected eczema, your doctor may recommend a more advanced, targeted treatment option called biologics, such as dupilumab (Dupixent). This medication is given by injection every two weeks. Dupilumab helps your skin rebuild a healthy microbiome, which creates an unfriendly environment for staph.