Baths for Eczema - 5 Baths to Bring Relief

Baths for Eczema

Find relief for your eczema symptoms with a relaxing bath. Baths for eczema can add much needed moisture and bring amazing relief if done correctly. Here are five different eczema baths with simple instructions. Moisturizing after any shower or bath is an essential part of an eczema skin care routine.

Always consult a physician before trying new treatments. Common sense caution when bathing a child never leave your child alone in the bathtub.

Coconut Oil Bath for Treating Eczema

Keep in mind that coconut oil is considered a nut, so if you or your child has a tree nut allergy, it would be best to avoid coconut oil. Coconut oil is a great all-natural moisturizer/emollient for eczema. Coconut oil penetrates the skin barrier deeper than your average eczema moisturizer because of its low molecular weight and how it bonds with proteins. It contains vitamin E, K, and iron and is antimicrobial and anti-fungal. It is absolutely perfect for itchy, inflamed eczema.

How to Enjoy a Coconut Bath for Eczema:

1. Draw a warm bath.
2.  Add ¼ cup coconut oil to the bath. If it’s wintertime and the coconut oil is hard, warm it on the stove and pour the warm liquid into the tub.
3. Consider adding ¼ cup Epsom salt. Epsom salt can bring down inflammation, can help clean eczema and decrease bacteria.
4. Make sure the coconut oil and Epsom salt are thoroughly mixed into the warm water.
5. Soak for at least 15 minutes, pouring over the shoulders.
6. After 15 minutes, rinse with warm water to wash off the salt.
7. Pat skin dry with a clean towel and rub coconut oil into the eczema.
8. Dress in eczema clothing. Eczema clothing can help stop the itch and keep the coconut oil in place for maximum treatment, and is less messy than wearing regular clothing.

Caution: Coconut oil can make the bathtub slippery! Be careful getting out.

Salt Baths for Treating Eczema

The National Eczema Association recommends salt baths for eczema. Many eczema sufferers report a decrease in itching, inflammation, and redness. Salt is natural, therapeutic and has a cleansing effect. If your baby or child suffers from eczema, salt baths can be a natural and effective way to successfully treat their eczema. Salt baths must be accompanied by daily skin maintenance of lightly towing off and applying moisturizer to damp skin.

How to Enjoy a Salt Bath for Eczema:

1. Purchase your salt. Dead Sea has many benefits for eczema. You can also use Epsom salt.
2.  Prepare a warm tub.
3. Add the salt: 2 cups for a full bath, 1 cup for a half bath, and a 1/8 cup for a baby bath.
4. Soak your baby or child in the warm salt bath for 10-20 minutes.
5. When finished pat dry - do not rub.
6. Immediately apply an eczema cream.
7. Dressing in eczema clothing can help stop the itch and keep creams in place for effective treatment.

This process may need to be done daily. You will need to be patient, salt baths can take 10 days to see a difference in the skin.

An Oatmeal Bath for Treating Eczema

An oatmeal bath is a classic remedy that soothes the itch, brings down inflammation and has moisturizing properties. Oatmeal baths were known to help the itch of chickenpox before immunizations made this disease disappear. Now, this tried and true method can be used with great success for eczema flares. Unless you or your child has a trigger related to oatmeal, an oatmeal bath can provide amazing relief.

How to Enjoy an Oatmeal Bath for Eczema

1. Purchase a Nut Milk Bag. These are available on-line at Amazon, Target or Bed Bath and Beyond. You can skip this step, but it prevents a mess in your tub.
2. Take 1 cup oats and put into a food processor and blend on medium-high for 1 minute.
3. Add blended oats to nut milk bag.
4. Fill the tub with lukewarm water and add the bag to the water.
5. Soak in the tub for 15 minutes.
6. After 15 minutes rinse off well and pat dry with a clean towel.
7. Immediately apply an eczema cream.
8. Dress in eczema clothing. For extra relief try adding 1/2 cup Epsom salt or coconut oil (if not allergic). 

Apple Cider Vinegar Baths for Treating Eczema

Apple cider vinegar is used for eczema relief, to treat outbreaks, and to prevent eczema flares. The natural astringent quality of the vinegar may help to balance the skin’s pH levels. Apple cider vinegar is too acidic to be applied directly to the skin. Be sure to use diluted apple cider vinegar to reduce the chance of skin irritation. 

How to Enjoy an Apple Cider Vinegar Bath: 

1. Mix 2 cups of ACV into a warm bath if using a tub. Use 4 tsp. per gallon, if using a baby tub.
2. Soak in the bath for 20 minutes. 
3. Gently pat the skin dry with a soft, cotton towel. Leave the skin slightly moist.
4. Moisturize immediately while the skin is still damp with a moisturizer.
5. After applying an eczema cream apply eczema clothing to reduce itching and allow creams to stay in place for optimum treatment.

Bleach Baths for Treating Eczema

Consult with your physician first before adding bleach baths to your skincare routine for eczema relief and to decide on duration and amounts.

Properly diluted bleach baths have been shown to be safe for children and adults. Adding bleach to your bath water helps to control skin bacteria and decrease infections. It’s an effective way for adults and children alike to get control of their eczema flares. This concentration of bleach is actually very low and is similar to a swimming pool at about 0.005%.

Bleach baths can help to reduce redness, itchiness, and skin scaling. The baths are most effective when you also follow a disciplined moisturizing routine.

If your skin becomes dry, you may not be rinsing your skin thoroughly, you might be using too much bleach, or you may be taking bleach baths too often. Try troubleshooting your bleach baths by rinsing more carefully, adjusting the amount of bleach, and reducing your frequency. You can also increase your moisturizer, which can always be used in generous amounts.

Bleach baths can be a simple, safe, and effective way to control bacterial infections and reduce eczema symptoms.

CAUTION: Never put anything other than bleach into the bathwater. Bleach can react to other ingredients and become extremely harmful.

CAUTION: When handling the bleach. Avoid direct contact with the undiluted bleach. Also, be careful to protect your clothing and towels.

Choosing the right bleach:

Regular strength household bleach (4-6% sodium hypochlorite) is all that you need for your bleach bath. Do not use concentrated bleach or bleach that contains fragrances.

What size is my bathtub?

These bleach bath recipe sizes are based on a standard-sized American bathtub; a tub filled to the overflow line marked by the drainage holes is 150 liters. If you have a smaller bathtub, try 1 tsp. of bleach for every gallon of water.

Bleach Bath Steps:

¼ cup of bleach for a half bath – approximately 75 liters of water

OR

½ cup of bleach for a full bath – approximately 150 liters of water

OR

1 teaspoon for a gallon

1. Mix the bleach and the water well before entering the bath.
2. Soak in the bath for 5-10 minutes. Do not submerge your head. Soak from the neck down or specifically soak the affected areas. Rinse the skin with clean, warm water.
3. Gently pat the skin dry with a soft, cotton towel. Do not rub skin, lightly pat. Leave the skin slightly moist.
4. Moisturize immediately while the skin is still damp. Follow any prescribed moisturizing and prescription directions from your physician or child's physician. We recommend Vaniply ointment as it is recommended by most allergists and dermatologist. 
5. Consider applying eczema clothing over the emollient. This stops itching and keeps the emollients in place.
6. If you suffer from moderate to severe eczema also consider wet wrap therapy for eczema. Wet wrap therapy for eczema is an extremely effective treatment for eczema and is followed immediately after the emollient is applied. Below is a diagram for wet wrap therapy. Done correctly, studies report a 75% reduction in eczema symptoms. Consult your physician with any concerns or questions. 

This information is not meant to replace a visit to a physician or a physician’s advice. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. AD RescueWear does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any condition.