Can Bleach Help Psoriasis? What to Know About Bleach Baths

There aren’t many studies about using a diluted bleach bath for psoriasis, but some say they may be helpful for itchy skin, inflammation, skin infections, and eczema.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system sometimes attacks your body. It causes your skin cells to grow faster than usual.

Psoriasis can cause itchy, raised patches of skin ringed with irritation. It might make you more prone to skin infections due to itching. It’s a chronic condition and can be painful.

There isn’t a lot of literature specifically endorsing a diluted bleach bath for psoriasis, but there are many studies that find them helpful for itchy skin, inflammation, skin infections, and eczema. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis and, like psoriasis, leads to dry, itchy skin.

Bleach baths themselves aren’t harmful. If done right, bathing in one is not unlike swimming in a chlorinated pool.

What is a bleach bath?

A so-called bleach bath may conjure images of strong, eye-irritating fumes or unpleasantly strong bath water. However, it’s not a bath in bleach but rather a regular bath with just a little bit of bleach mixed in.

Your dermatologist or other healthcare professional may recommend them for many skin conditions, including eczema and the prevention of some skin infections.

There aren’t a lot of studies looking at whether bleach baths can help psoriasis.

However, some studies and experts indicate that bleach baths can help itchy skin and inflammation.

They can also help prevent infections by killing harmful bacteria that can grow on your skin. When conditions like psoriasis cause you to scratch, that can cause breaks in the skin that bacteria can get into and cause an infection. Killing the bacteria lessens the likelihood of those infections.

Bleach baths, if diluted correctly, aren’t harmful unless:

• you take them too often
• your skin is very dry
• the ratio of bleach to water is too strong
• you stay in them too long
• you have another condition that could make you sensitive to the effects of bleach
• the bath is too hot, which could lead to a psoriasis flare-up

If you have psoriasis or another condition, speak with a healthcare professional before trying one.

In general, warm, appropriately diluted bleach baths are safe. However, some people should avoid them.

These include:

• children younger than 2 years
• people with very dry, sensitive skin
• people with bleach allergies
• people who have open sores, cuts, or wounds
• those sensitive to bleach fumes

Bleach baths may also dry out your skin, so it’s important to rinse thoroughly afterward and apply an appropriate lotion or moisturizer.

Undiluted bleach can cause burns. If you get straight bleach on your skin, you should rinse it off immediately with water and wipe the area off with something absorbent, such as a sponge, and use gloves if needed.

Medical emergency

Call the Poison Control hotline at 800-222-1222 or go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care clinic if you experience bleach burns (raised red welts) or develop symptoms of shock, such as:

• rapid, weak, or absent pulse
• irregular heartbeat
• rapid, shallow breathing
• lightheadedness
• dilated pupils
• chest pain
• loss of consciousness

Some researchers suggest bleach baths for various skin conditions that stem from infection. When certain types of bacteria and fungi get on the skin, they can cause infection and inflammation.

Bleach baths can help kill staphylococcal bacteria, which are the culprit in the following conditions:

• impetigo, a common, very contagious, crusty skin infection that’s especially common in children
• boils, deep, pus-filled hair follicle infections
• folliculitis, also hair follicle infection
• infected eczema
• infected wounds, which happen when harmful bacteria enter an injury and multiply, leading to inflammation and sometimes a fever or other symptoms

Are bleach baths good for eczema?

Dermatologists and others have long recommended diluted bleach baths to help manage eczema. The chronic skin condition affects more than 28 million people in the United States.

Hot water and bubble baths can cause eczema to get worse, and you may develop characteristic dry, scaly, red patches. But the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) recommends bleach baths to help with inflammation and reduce the chances of bacterial infections for those with moderate to severe eczema.

Psoriasis in People of Color

People of Color tend to have a harder time getting the right treatment for psoriasis, leading to delays in treatment.

One reason may be that psoriasis looks different in people with darker skin. In white people, psoriasis usually shows up as red, scaly plaques. Medical literature often shows plaques on white skin as representative of the condition.

However, psoriasis in darker skin types can look purple, grayish, or darker brown, leading to misdiagnosis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

According to the foundation, it can also cover more body areas in some ethnic and racial groups other than white people. In 2018, non-Hispanic racial minorities, including Black people, Asians, and Native Americans, were also 40% less likely to seek medical treatment for psoriasis.

The foundation has more information about racial differences and treatment options for psoriasis here.

Was this helpful?

The AADA suggests bleach baths to help with inflammation and reduce the chances of bacterial infections for those with moderate to severe eczema.

The association recommends the following for eczema, and you can try at home for psoriasis:

• regular strength (6%) plain bleach
• half a cup per bathtub full of water, a quarter cup for half a bathtub, or 1 tablespoon per gallon of water for smaller baths
• a 5-to-10-minute soak at most, but discuss with a dermatologist or other healthcare professional first
• rinse off afterward
• pat dry and apply a moisturizer

Before taking a bleach bath, speak with your healthcare professional and discuss which moisturizer to use. The AADA adds that bleach baths may hurt if you have very dry skin, so you might discuss that as well.

You can try managing your symptoms at home with bleach baths or other psoriasis remedies if your skin symptoms are mild.

But if symptoms last longer, bother you, or worsen, it’s best to see a healthcare professional.

Bleach baths are warm baths with a little plain household bleach mixed in. The result is a soak that’s less chlorinated than most pool water but that has antimicrobial properties.

There’s evidence that they may help prevent skin infections and relieve itching and inflammation related to some skin conditions, such as eczema.

There isn’t much published research on whether bleach baths are helpful for psoriasis, but they probably won’t hurt.

If you take a bleach bath, rinse off afterward, and apply an appropriate moisturizer to keep your skin from drying out and aggravating your psoriasis.

Can Bleach Help Psoriasis? What to Know About Bleach Baths

There aren’t many studies about using a diluted bleach bath for psoriasis, but some say they may be helpful for itchy skin, inflammation, skin infections, and eczema.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system sometimes attacks your body. It causes your skin cells to grow faster than usual.

Psoriasis can cause itchy, raised patches of skin ringed with irritation. It might make you more prone to skin infections due to itching. It’s a chronic condition and can be painful.

There isn’t a lot of literature specifically endorsing a diluted bleach bath for psoriasis, but there are many studies that find them helpful for itchy skin, inflammation, skin infections, and eczema. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis and, like psoriasis, leads to dry, itchy skin.

Bleach baths themselves aren’t harmful. If done right, bathing in one is not unlike swimming in a chlorinated pool.

What is a bleach bath?

A so-called bleach bath may conjure images of strong, eye-irritating fumes or unpleasantly strong bath water. However, it’s not a bath in bleach but rather a regular bath with just a little bit of bleach mixed in.

Your dermatologist or other healthcare professional may recommend them for many skin conditions, including eczema and the prevention of some skin infections.

There aren’t a lot of studies looking at whether bleach baths can help psoriasis.

However, some studies and experts indicate that bleach baths can help itchy skin and inflammation.

They can also help prevent infections by killing harmful bacteria that can grow on your skin. When conditions like psoriasis cause you to scratch, that can cause breaks in the skin that bacteria can get into and cause an infection. Killing the bacteria lessens the likelihood of those infections.

Bleach baths, if diluted correctly, aren’t harmful unless:

• you take them too often
• your skin is very dry
• the ratio of bleach to water is too strong
• you stay in them too long
• you have another condition that could make you sensitive to the effects of bleach
• the bath is too hot, which could lead to a psoriasis flare-up

If you have psoriasis or another condition, speak with a healthcare professional before trying one.

In general, warm, appropriately diluted bleach baths are safe. However, some people should avoid them.

These include:

• children younger than 2 years
• people with very dry, sensitive skin
• people with bleach allergies
• people who have open sores, cuts, or wounds
• those sensitive to bleach fumes

Bleach baths may also dry out your skin, so it’s important to rinse thoroughly afterward and apply an appropriate lotion or moisturizer.

Undiluted bleach can cause burns. If you get straight bleach on your skin, you should rinse it off immediately with water and wipe the area off with something absorbent, such as a sponge, and use gloves if needed.

Medical emergency

Call the Poison Control hotline at 800-222-1222 or go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care clinic if you experience bleach burns (raised red welts) or develop symptoms of shock, such as:

• rapid, weak, or absent pulse
• irregular heartbeat
• rapid, shallow breathing
• lightheadedness
• dilated pupils
• chest pain
• loss of consciousness

Some researchers suggest bleach baths for various skin conditions that stem from infection. When certain types of bacteria and fungi get on the skin, they can cause infection and inflammation.

Bleach baths can help kill staphylococcal bacteria, which are the culprit in the following conditions:

• impetigo, a common, very contagious, crusty skin infection that’s especially common in children
• boils, deep, pus-filled hair follicle infections
• folliculitis, also hair follicle infection
• infected eczema
• infected wounds, which happen when harmful bacteria enter an injury and multiply, leading to inflammation and sometimes a fever or other symptoms

Are bleach baths good for eczema?

Dermatologists and others have long recommended diluted bleach baths to help manage eczema. The chronic skin condition affects more than 28 million people in the United States.

Hot water and bubble baths can cause eczema to get worse, and you may develop characteristic dry, scaly, red patches. But the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) recommends bleach baths to help with inflammation and reduce the chances of bacterial infections for those with moderate to severe eczema.

Psoriasis in People of Color

People of Color tend to have a harder time getting the right treatment for psoriasis, leading to delays in treatment.

One reason may be that psoriasis looks different in people with darker skin. In white people, psoriasis usually shows up as red, scaly plaques. Medical literature often shows plaques on white skin as representative of the condition.

However, psoriasis in darker skin types can look purple, grayish, or darker brown, leading to misdiagnosis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

According to the foundation, it can also cover more body areas in some ethnic and racial groups other than white people. In 2018, non-Hispanic racial minorities, including Black people, Asians, and Native Americans, were also 40% less likely to seek medical treatment for psoriasis.

The foundation has more information about racial differences and treatment options for psoriasis here.

Was this helpful?

The AADA suggests bleach baths to help with inflammation and reduce the chances of bacterial infections for those with moderate to severe eczema.

The association recommends the following for eczema, and you can try at home for psoriasis:

• regular strength (6%) plain bleach
• half a cup per bathtub full of water, a quarter cup for half a bathtub, or 1 tablespoon per gallon of water for smaller baths
• a 5-to-10-minute soak at most, but discuss with a dermatologist or other healthcare professional first
• rinse off afterward
• pat dry and apply a moisturizer

Before taking a bleach bath, speak with your healthcare professional and discuss which moisturizer to use. The AADA adds that bleach baths may hurt if you have very dry skin, so you might discuss that as well.

You can try managing your symptoms at home with bleach baths or other psoriasis remedies if your skin symptoms are mild.

But if symptoms last longer, bother you, or worsen, it’s best to see a healthcare professional.

Bleach baths are warm baths with a little plain household bleach mixed in. The result is a soak that’s less chlorinated than most pool water but that has antimicrobial properties.

There’s evidence that they may help prevent skin infections and relieve itching and inflammation related to some skin conditions, such as eczema.

There isn’t much published research on whether bleach baths are helpful for psoriasis, but they probably won’t hurt.

If you take a bleach bath, rinse off afterward, and apply an appropriate moisturizer to keep your skin from drying out and aggravating your psoriasis.

Topic 3: School of psoriasis patients.

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Methods of treating psoriasis: therapeutic baths

At home, therapeutic baths based on medicinal plants, taken under the supervision of a doctor, have an excellent effect. The most widely used coniferous, sage baths and baths from flax seeds. For the preparation of such baths, extracts or dried rasteria, which are sold in pharmacies, will be required.

Pine baths

Pine baths are prepared as follows. In 200 g of water, dissolve 100 ml of natural liquid coniferous extract or one briquette (50 g), stirring thoroughly. When using a briquetted coniferous extract, it is advisable to first dissolve it in a small amount of hot water, and then bring the water to the required volume in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations. The temperature of the water in the bath should be 35-37 degrees. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes.

Baths should be taken daily or every other day. The course of treatment is 15–20 baths. Sometimes pine buds are used to make baths. They are taken at the rate of 50 g per 1 liter of water. The kidneys are boiled for 30–60 minutes in a water bath, filtered and poured into a basin at a water temperature of 36–38 degrees. Such baths are very useful for palmoplantar psoriasis.

Baths made from freshly cut pine branches have a curative effect. The branches are poured with boiling water. After cooling the water to 37-38 degrees, hands or feet are immersed in the bath for 30 minutes. After the procedure, hands or feet are wrapped and lie down in bed for 30 minutes. The procedure is carried out every 2 days. The course of treatment is 5-7 baths.

Valerian baths

Often, valerian officinalis is used as a medicinal bath. Its action is manifested slowly, but quite steadily. In patients, the feeling of tension, increased irritability disappears. Dosage of valerian baths: 50–75 ml of tincture or liquid extract of valerian per bath volume for an adult. The temperature of the water in the bath should be 35-37 degrees.

Treatment time 10-15 minutes. Baths to do daily. The course of treatment is 10–15 baths.

In the complex treatment of psoriasis, mixed coniferous-valerian baths containing coniferous extract and valerian tincture are widely used. With their use, the patient’s general well-being, ECG indicators improve, lipid metabolism, which occupies an important place in the mechanism of psoriasis development, normalizes. Dosage of coniferous-valerian baths: 50 ml of coniferous extract and 50-75 ml of valerian tincture.

Sage baths

Sage baths have antimicrobial, astringent, anti-inflammatory properties, which served as the basis for their use in slowly developing forms of psoriasis. The leaves of the plant are used as medicinal raw materials. To prepare a sage bath, 100 g of dry crushed vegetable raw materials are poured into 1 liter of tap water, boiled for 60 minutes. The resulting mixture is infused for a day and filtered through gauze. The filtered broth is poured into the bath.

Flaxseed bath

Flaxseed baths have enveloping, anti-inflammatory properties, which alleviates the patient’s condition. They are especially useful for the elderly and in the presence of itchy skin. To prepare such baths, take 250 g of flaxseed, pour 5 liters of water, bring to a boil, filter through a cloth and add the resulting broth to the bath. These baths are used for weeping, exudative forms of psoriasis, with the localization of the disease in large skin folds.

Contraindications in the appointment of general baths: malignant neoplasms, pulmonary tuberculosis, cardiovascular insufficiency, atherosclerosis, hypertension, severe forms of angina pectoris, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, the second half of pregnancy, infectious and fungal skin lesions, etc.

When taking baths on the basis of medicinal plants or herbal preparations, a full bath requires 200-250 liters, a sitting bath – 20-30 liters and a foot bath – up to 10 liters of water. A bathtub used for medicinal purposes must be enameled or tiled. The patient should lie in the bath calmly, relaxing the muscles. It is advisable to put a towel under your head. In the bath, one should lie so that the water covers the entire body, and the upper part of the chest remains open. After the end of the procedure, you need to rest for 30-60 minutes, lying on the couch or sitting in a chair.

Aromatic baths can be prepared after consultation with a doctor from almost any medicinal raw material. Here is one of the many entries. Take 20 g of lemon balm herb, 20 g of yarrow herb, 20 g of wormwood herb, 20 g of calamus rhizome, 15 g of mint herb and 40 g of pine or birch buds. All components are poured into 1 liter of water and boiled for 15 minutes. The resulting broth is filtered and added to the bath. An aromatic bath is taken for 10 minutes at a temperature of 37 degrees every other day as a tonic, more often in the stationary stage of the disease.

References

• Axt-Gadermann M., Chudomirova K., Noll M. [Probiotic baths for atopic dermatitis]. // Hautarzt – 2021 – Vol – NNULL – p.; PMID:33730257
• Konya I., Nishiya K., Yano R. Effectiveness of bed bath methods for skin integrity, skin cleanliness and comfort enhancement in adults: A systematic review. // Nurs Open – 2021 – Vol – NNULL – p.; PMID:33724709
• Spielvogel I., Spałek K., Badora K., Proćków J. Traditional knowledge and practice of the Triassic variegated clay from Silesia (Krasiejów), Poland, in human medicine. // J Ethnobiol Ethnomed – 2021 – Vol17 – N1 – p.10; PMID:33596953
• Kanlioz M., Ekici U., Tatli F., Karatas T. Pilonidal Sinus Disease: An Analysis of the Factors Affecting Recurrence. // Adv Skin Wound Care – 2021 – Vol34 – N2 – p.81-85; PMID:33443913
• Habek D., Cerovac A., Kamerić L., Nevačinović E., Šerak A. Balneogynaecology in the 21st century: increasingly recommended primary and complementary treatment of chronic gynaecological diseases. // Med Glas (Zenica) – 2021 – Vol18 – N1 – p.1-6; PMID:33219638
• Barnat N., Grisey A., Gerold B., Yon S., Anquez J., Aubry JF. Vein wall shrinkage induced by thermal coagulation with high-intensity-focused ultrasound: numerical modeling and in vivo experiments in sheep. // Int J Hyperthermia – 2020 – Vol37 – N1 – p.1238-1247; PMID:33164625
• Uyanaeva AI., Pogonchenkova IV., Tupitsyna YY., Maksimova GA., Turova EA., Lvova NV., Lyamina NP., Kharisov NF. [Modern medical and meteorological assessment of Moscow weather and the effectiveness of non-drug methods of increased meteosensitivity correction in patients with joint diseases].