When should you take a bleach bath for eczema relief? You'll get brief details in the paragraphs below. It's important to discuss this with your physician beforehand, especially if you have any concerns about your health. Some physicians recommend them for many people with atopic dermatitis, while others view them as just a last resort due to possible side effects.
The purpose of a bath is to soothe irritated skin and get rid of any excess oil or moisture on the surface. In the case of eczematous skin, this can be problematic, because excessive dryness can make the condition worse. Eczema patients should therefore not shower right after bathing, but rinse off the excess moisture with a moisturizer. It's best to use the same moisturizer that you use for regular skin. If you've used soap or other cleansers, change to a cleanser without oil, such as Neutrogena or Dove.
Ideally, you'd like to take a bleach bath for eczema relief every day, but since doing so would be impractical, take one or two every week or month. One or two each in the spring and summer, and one in the fall. You can use the same tub or shower you use for regular skin care, so you won't have to drain the tub or shower if you don't want to. The same is true for using moisturizers. It may take a small amount of time to get used to this, but you can easily learn how to reduce the effect of drying by keeping your towel on the exposed skin.
The effect of a bleach bath for eczema will depend on your skin type. Those with dry skin may find they get faster results. For those with oily skin, the effects can be much more dramatic. Using a humidifier can help. It will add a little humidity to the room so that the effect is further enhanced.
A bleach bath for eczema treatments is not usually recommended for atopic dermatitis sufferers. The atopic dermatitis type of this skin disease can actually spread because it affects the inner layer of the skin. Therefore, any irritation will be particularly visible on the surface. In the rare case that atopic dermatitis spreads, the inflammation may become chronic. This will make the symptoms worse rather than better, and it may eventually require a prescription for steroid tablets and oral steroids.
Some dermatologists do not encourage their patients to take bleach baths for eczemas. Dermatologists know that the bacteria from which scabies are caused can often be washed away with shampoo. Shampoos that are anti-bacterial or anti-fungal can work just as well. It is not known how long the tub should be soaked in the bleach bath for eczema treatments. You should carefully consider the duration of time the tub is soaking in the solution. Usually you should give yourself ten minutes to get into the tub and soak, then you can decide if you want to finish the bath.
Many people prefer to soak their tubs in chlorinated water. If your tub is already chlorinated, you may decide to skip the bathtub and soak in a sink. However, you should carefully read the instructions on the bottle about the amount of time the water should be soaked in. It is a good idea to thoroughly rinse the bathroom area after the bath. You can also purchase a special cloth that is designed for soaking, or even use an old towel.
If you have a lot of wounds, or open wounds on your body, bleach can irritate them. Be sure to rinse all areas of the bath with warm water, or disinfect with rubbing alcohol or chlorine bleach. If you have a lot of open wounds, or sores, you may want to consider using an ice pack to relieve the pain. This will reduce the irritation and heal the skin faster. By the way, if you plan on using an ice pack, do not use it while you are still in the bathtub!