Below is all about the evaporation or wet wrap method; but, before you do that and get cold, totally try the Thermal Suit method, because it's the only thing I do.  I don't have to use lotions or wet wraps anymore.  You can pick one up at Job Lot for about $10 or at sporting goods store like Dick's.  It's like wearing a light weight jogging suit made of vinyl.  I put it on over my clothes and wear it around all day (out shopping and everything).  It's great, because I don't have to use lotions after I shower, I never feel cold anymore, and when I take my suit off at night, my clothes are very, very damp, so I know I have trapped my moisture in without using lotions or creams.

Now, about the famous wet wrap method: 

From How Things Work  with Louis A. Bloomfield, Professor of Physics, The University of Virginia).  My question and his answer.

Q.  How is the skin better hydrated by vapor as opposed to liquid water? Wrapping yourself in a damp sheet is more effective at treating the dryness of eczema than taking a bath. -- Christina Nevada

A.   " When your skin is immersed in pure water, the only molecules that ever collide with its surface are water molecules.  That might seem to be the ideal situation for keeping skin moist, however such immersion can have other unintended consequences. First, any water soluble atoms, molecules, and ions that can move to the surface of your skin will dissolve away in the surrounding water and you'll never see them again. Second, any water soluble atoms, molecules, and ions that can't move to the surface of your skin will draw water into your skin by way of osmosis--the pure water will flow into your skin cells in an attempted to dilute the dissolved particles inside those cells. After a relatively short time, the cells of your skin will contain many more water molecules than before and your skin will look all wrinkly. This flow of water soluble materials out of your skin and water into your skin may not be so wonderful for your eczema."

"When you wrap yourself in a wet cloth, you are ensuring that the relative humidity near the surface of your skin will be close to 100%. Air molecules will still be present around your skin but now there will be essentially no net transfer of water between your skin and the surrounding air--water molecules will leave your skin for the air at roughly the same  rate as water molecules return to your skin from the air. In effect, you are stopping evaporation from your skin and very little else. Stopping evaporation from your skin will also cause it to accumulate moisture, but this time the new moisture will come from within your body. Water molecules that would have left your skin had it been surrounded by dry air are  now staying in your skin, where they add to the moisture in your skin. Overall, your skin will contain more water but it will not have lost as many water soluble chemicals and it will not have water driven into it by osmotic pressure. It may be this more gentle moisturizing effect that makes wrapping yourself in a damp sheet more pleasant for your eczema than immersing yourself in water."

Key in on the word "vapor".  Just laying damp sheets over the skin is all you really have to do.   I  learned about it from Yale Dermatology, and it was effective enough to break the cycle of my inflammation that was biopsied three times by other doctors.  When they told me to lay damp sheets on the skin, I responded that it was  probably the hydration that was helpful.  In answer to that comment, the dermatologist told me that evaporation breaks down skin inflammation.  That's why I began to call it the Evaporation Method instead of just wet wrapping.

Evaporation has two descriptions: 1) to draw moisture  from; and 2) the conversion of water into vapor.  Zoom in on the second  description, and let's correlate it with wet wrap therapy.  Why use a wet wrap instead of just a bath?  Liquid water is not as effective in hydrating skin as water vapor.  Just like water evaporates out of our skin, water vapor can hydrate the skin.  Baths didn't help me; only when the wetness began to evaporate out of the sheet did I see and feel improvement.  Remember, hydration of the skin will result in reduced inflammation.  

Feedback

"I don't think I can thank you enough for the help you gave me. I have eczema all over my body.  The only thing the doctors could say is steroids shots to clear me up. It has been 3 days now since I have been using the wet wraps, and I am almost cleared up.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU.  My doctor never heard of it.  Keep spreading the information."

Another ...

"Thank you for your eczema relief remedy. Our son who is now 1 year old has been battling eczema his whole life. We have tried everything!  .... We will try your water bath sheet therapy! Thank you so much for your helpful hint."

Later, she wrote back with this:

"Our son's eczema has really cleared up! We have been using Aveeno skin cleanser instead of soap and shampoo for him."

Another ...

"I woke up with a couple of spots this morning.  Did the first half hour evaporation, and that's all it took.  It's evening now, and I was going to do another half hour, but there's nothing there.  This is amazing!!!!! Thank you!"

Another ...

"Try the evaporation trick ..., it seems to curb the intense itching sensation."

Another ...

"The evaporation thing works wonders, and even if I am not "cured" my skin is getting better, not worse. I will continue to try Chinese herbs (as I can afford it!) and some other alternative things, but at least this is manageable now."  

This is why I believe that we need to take this simple knowledge  and give it the stardom it deserves.   Before I explain how I used evaporation, it's important to share with you something another person wrote: 

"I tried the evaporation method and have mixed feelings. I felt better at the start--the inflammation went down; but, it came back with a vengeance the next day."  

I responded to her this way ... Since the evaporation method helped the inflammation subside, I should ask what you did later that might be causing the flare-ups.  Evaporation can break the cycle of inflammation, but it may  return unless the irritant is avoided.  For, something as simple as a lotion with lanolin might be causing the flare-ups.  
 

Some Ways to Use Wet Wraps

Because water evaporates out of a sheet/pillow case quickly, dampen it in  WARM water, quickly squeeze out the excess water (it shouldn't be dripping wet), and then lay it over the inflammation until the skin feels better.  I say warm water because it feels better, and it will get cold soon enough anyway.  Try using a white 100% cotton sheet or pillow case.  If you can avoid 50% cotton  & 50% polyester, it might be helpful because some polyester blends makes me feel itchy.  Rewet it every 15 minutes or so.  The itchiness should begin to subside within  5 minutes.  Half an hour to an hour can make a noticeable difference.  When the eczema was out of control, I used wet wraps three times daily.

Wrap yourself up in the damp sheet, and lounge around in it if it's warm enough.  I realize this is going to make you feel chilled.  So, you can go ahead and wrap a blanket around yourself, too.  You can sleep with damp pillow cases covering the areas of inflammation.

Make cover-ups from pillow cases for children.

If it's too cold to do that, you can also sit in a bathtub with just enough WARM water to make you comfortable.  Then, put the damp sheet on the inflammation.  Keep warming the water and draining the cooled water so you don't get too cold.  Remember, as the water evaporates out of the sheet, you will feel better.

Try using a cotton dress shirt.

Put your arms in a damp pillow case while you watch TV.

One night I woke up with my back feeling hot, sweaty and itchy with a  patchy raised rash (eczema).  I got a pillow case, dampened it with warm water, squeezed out the excess water, took it back to bed, laid down on my stomach, put the pillow case on my back, covered up with my blanket, the itch subsided  after a couple of minutes, I fell asleep like that; and, when I woke up, the inflammation had subsided.  This is a pattern.  I can depend on it for reliable  help.

A student e-mailed me that he made a mask from a pillow case so that he could study while using evaporation.    

Try buying 100% cotton light weight pajamas and use them instead of sheets.   Then, maybe put another pair of those pajamas on top so that it's not too cold.

Don't use towels to dry your body after taking a shower; just brush away the water with your hands to preserve your natural oils.

Repetitive splashing of very cold water on your skin should  rinse off any irritant and help the itch subside.   

Dry Skin With Wet Wraps

Whatever way of using wet wraps, if your skin feels tight, putting on an irritant-free moisturizer while the skin is still wet with water droplets may be helpful.

For detailed instructions and photos on wet wrapping, follow this link.

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