Bleach: Not Just For Clothing?
While searching different medical articles for new treatments of skin disorders, I found a very bizarre article. It claimed that bleach (which I thought was only used for clothing) could help children suffering from chronic eczema but how?
Eczema’s most common form is atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema), a skin condition associated with irritation or inflammation. Atopic eczema affects 9 to 30 percent of the U.S. population, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Eczema is highly common in young children and infants, and the length of time they experience the disorder can range from their second birthday to the rest of their life. Areas affected by eczema are often irritated, inflamed, and may appear dry or scaly.
For fair skinned individuals, eczema may appear reddish and then turn brown, while darker individuals may experience either lightened or darkened skin pigmentation. In infants, the rashes can cause oozing and crusting. While eczema is most common on the face, hands, feet, and knees, it can occur on any part of the body.
A serious concern with eczema is the possibility of infection. Irritation caused by eczema can provoke scratching, leaving the skin exposed to infection. Complications from infection, such as staphylococcus aureus, can be lethal or debilitating. While infections are generally treated with antibiotics, they can provoke worse symptoms in eczema patients.
So, where does bleach factor in?
In studies by Amy Paller and several other associates, patients with eczema and staph infections were treated with diluted bleach baths and a series antibiotics over a two week period. These patients were compared with patients having eczema and staph who received antibiotics and a placebo, non-bleach bath. The recipients of the antibiotic and bleach bath treatments showed significant improvement to the control group, with reduced eczema symptoms.
Other research has shown that diluted bleach is useful for adults as well as children who suffer from chronic eczema. An article, written by L. Gibson, M.D.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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