For patients with eczema, a bleach bath can be used to reduce the bacterial load on the skin which can be contributing to recurrent flare ups and infection. It is additionally anti-inflammatory.
Some people may prefer Condy’s crystals baths, which is drying and can be useful for weeping eczema. Find out about Condy’s crystals bathing here.
This amount of bleach in water is very safe- it is a bit stronger than the chlorine of a pool, and is very well-tolerated.
Bleach Bath’s for Eczema
Bleach Baths instructions
Add 1/4 cup of bleach for half a tub of water - OR 12 mL of bleach for every 10 litres of water
Plain white bleach (e.g. white king bleach regular) can be used - avoid fragranced bleach
1-2 caps of QV bath oil can also be added
Bathe for 10-15 minutes
Pat skin dry after (don’t rinse)
This can be done once or twice a week, or more frequently if the skin has an active infection.
Find more information at the Royal Children’s Hospital Website
How do I figure out how much water my bath holds?
I recommend using a regular 10-litre bucket (ideally one with volume markings). Count how many buckets you need to fill the bath to your usual comfortable level. For example, if it takes five 10-litre buckets, that’s a 50-litre bath - which would require 60 mL of bleach (12mL per 10L). Once you’ve worked this out, place a piece of marking tape on the bath so you can easily fill to the same level each time.
What if I don’t have a bath?
Microshield 2 Chlorhexidine Skin Cleanser or phisohex wash can also be used as antibacterial agents in the shower.
You can add 1.2mL of bleach to 1L of QV wash, which creates a similar dilution.