Spa treatment by condition
Spa treatment for atopic eczema
Atopic eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition that runs in flares, with dry, itchy skin. Marienbad lists it as its own position, X/1, on the Czech indication list; the cure combines mineral baths and peloid wraps with physician-prescribed full-body phototherapy and the climate therapy of the spa town.
What is treated here
- Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) in adults, chronic or with recurring flares
- Stays directly following inpatient treatment on a dermatology ward
- More extensive skin involvement for which the dermatologist is considering phototherapy
- Accompanying dryness and itching of the skin
How the cure works
Initial examination on arrival day
The spa physician assesses the skin findings and your current treatment, from ointments to systemic or biological therapy, and decides whether baths, wraps and phototherapy are suitable. Bring recent dermatological findings and a complete list of your medication, including creams and ointments.
Treatments as prescribed
How many treatments follow each day depends on the stay you have booked or on the scope of the covered cure. Baths and phototherapy are dosed according to the state of the skin; every bath is followed by re-fatting skincare so that the skin does not dry out.
Time outdoors
Walks in the spa forest and climate therapy are part of the daily programme. Marienbad has held the status of a climatic spa since 2023.
Check-ups and final report
The spa physician follows the skin findings during the stay and adjusts the programme. At the end you receive a report for your dermatologist and recommendations for skincare at home.
Treatments used
- Mineral bath
- A bath in the natural carbonated mineral water of the local springs; the physician sets the temperature and the number of baths.
- Dry carbon dioxide bath
- Time spent in the natural Maria’s gas, without getting into water.
- Peloid wraps
- Wraps of peat or moor mud, only with the physician’s consent.
- Full-body phototherapy
- Narrow-band UVB at 311 nm (20-minute session) or red and near-infrared light (30 minutes) at the Centrální Lázně hotel, always on prescription. A phototherapy comb is available for the scalp and smaller areas.
- Climate therapy
- Guided time and exercise outdoors in the upland climate of Marienbad.
- Post-bath skincare
- Re-fatting care after every bath so that the skin does not dry out.
How long, and when
For guests insured in the Czech Republic, the indication list sets 21 days for position X/1: as comprehensive spa care (K 21) up to the age of 25, and for older patients directly after inpatient treatment in dermatology or as an alternative to it; otherwise as contributory care (P 21). A repeat stay is possible as comprehensive care once in 24 months, or as contributory care of 21 days, 14 in justified cases. The proposal is recommended by specialists in allergology, dermatology or rehabilitation medicine. Self-paying guests generally plan three weeks in consultation with the spa physician. If phototherapy is planned, discuss sun protection for the rest of your stay with the physician.
When a spa cure is not an option
- An acute flare with weeping skin or a bacterial or viral skin infection
- For UV phototherapy: skin tumours, photodermatoses, photosensitising medication, active tuberculosis, systemic lupus
- Acute infectious disease, uncontrolled heart failure, active cancer
- Pregnancy, or an inability to manage personal care without a companion
Whether and to what extent a spa cure is right for you, and whether it includes phototherapy, is decided by the spa physician at the initial examination together with your skin findings and your ongoing treatment. This page provides information and does not replace medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is atopic eczema treated in Marienbad?
Yes. Atopic eczema is official position X/1 on the Czech indication list, and the related decree names Marienbad among the spa towns for this indication; for skin indications X/1 and X/2 it explicitly recognises favourable climatic conditions as a healing factor. The cure combines mineral baths, peloid wraps, full-body phototherapy and climate therapy.
Where does phototherapy take place, and who prescribes it?
Full-body phototherapy is available at the Centrální Lázně hotel, with narrow-band UVB at 311 nm and with red and near-infrared light. It is always prescribed by the physician; skin tumours, photodermatoses, photosensitising medication, active tuberculosis, systemic lupus and pregnancy rule out UV phototherapy.
How long does a spa cure for atopic eczema last?
Under the Czech indication list, 21 days: as comprehensive care up to the age of 25 or following inpatient dermatological treatment, otherwise as contributory care. Self-paying guests usually choose three weeks in consultation with the spa physician.
Can I continue my usual treatment during the cure?
Yes, and you should not change the treatment prescribed at home without the physician’s consent. Bring your ointments and medication with you; the spa physician adjusts the procedures to them.
Sources
Studies and official documents this article relies on. Our content does not replace medical advice.
- Czech indication list for spa treatment (Annex 5 to Act No. 48/1997 Coll.), Group X — skin diseases — Position X/1 (atopic eczema), with type of care, length and conditions of the covered stay.
- Decree No. 2/2015 Coll. on the professional criteria for spa rehabilitation care — Marienbad among the spa towns for position X/1; favourable climatic conditions as a healing factor for positions X/1 and X/2; recommending specialisms. Text in Czech.
- Léčebné lázně Mariánské Lázně — treatment brochure “Spa Treatment in Mariánské Lázně” (2025), treatment of skin conditions — Skin conditions treated and the procedures used, including full-body phototherapy.
- Ensana Centrální Lázně — UV and IR phototherapy leaflets (2026) — Location, session length, wavelengths and contraindications of phototherapy; on prescription only.
