Alternative Health Blog

It may sound like a crackpot remedy, but according to The Week, regular baths in diluted bleach bring great relief to kids with chronic eczema, says The New York Times. The Week reports that Northwestern University researchers took two groups of eczema sufferes between 6 months and 17 years of age, and found that those who bathed in diluted bleach (a half-cup of bleach per 40 gallons of bath water) showed major improvement, with far less skin irritation, itchiness, and flaking. Only those parts of the body immersed in the bleach solution improved. Bleach doesn't cure eczema, but it kills the bacteria that often gain access to the skin because of scratching and flaking, and thus greatly reduces "flares" of the disease. Bleach can be very caustic, so anyone interested in a bleach bath should first consult with a dermatologist. May you always be blessed with good health.