How to Take a Bleach Bath to Soothe Eczema

If you have eczema, using the right products (those designed for sensitive, itchy skin) is a key part of your treatment regimen. Some ingredients found in commercial skin care products can irritate the body, they warn, and they may cause eczema flare-ups.

So why do doctors recommend a bleach bath as an effective eczema treatment?

First of all, if you have eczema, you should never apply undiluted bleach straight to your skin, warns the American Academy of Dermatology. This is way too harsh for anyone’s skin (with eczema or otherwise), and your doc definitely doesn’t want you to sit in a bathtub full of bleach.

However, a bath with a touch of bleach is safe and may be helpful for some eczema patients. Here’s why: Certain skin infections, such molluscum virus, herpes virus, ringworm, and athlete’s foot, can trigger or worsen eczema symptoms, according to the National Eczema Association. A bleach bath can cut down on the number of bacteria on the skin and prevent eczema from becoming infected, which will make your skin even more irritated.

To safely take a bleach bath for eczema, use a ¼ cup of bleach for half a tub of water (or a ½ cup for a full tub). Choose a regular-strength bleach, which should be 6 percent. Skip the concentrated stuff. This will create a bleach-and-water solution that is about the same strength as a swimming pool, says dermatologist Suzanne Friedler, MD, of the Mount Sinai Hospital and St. John’s Episcopal Hospital.

There’s no need to bring a book and light candles for this bath: Your doctor recommends just five to 10 minutes in a bleach bath, and only take one twice a week.

For more home treatment tips for eczema, here’s how to pick the right moisturizer to prevent eczema flare-ups.