Examination of the age-old home remedy of bleach baths for chronic skin issues is a helpful “natural” strategy for relief of symptoms.
The old-fashioned bleach bath is making a strong comeback in our modern, auto-immune compromised world.
This country doctor solution was commonly recommended in generations past for acute, one-off skin infections that were not of a persistent nature.
And it worked – really, really well.
The difference today is that the bleach bath is being recommended by infectious disease doctors for long-lasting skin problems in patients who are experiencing chronic issues related to eczema or the superbug MRSA.
Unfortunately, the suggestion to soak in a tubful of water with a small amount of chlorine bleach added is misguided for these types of skin conditions. Ultimately, it can make the situation worse over time.
Before identifying the health risks of a bleach bath and why it probably won’t help long-term, let’s first talk about the specifics.
What is a Bleach Bath?
The common directive for a “therapeutic” bleach bath (not to be confused with a hydrogen peroxide bath) is as follows:
- Fill a standard-size bathtub with warm water to the overflow drainage level.
- Pour 4 oz (118 ml) of chlorine bleach into the filled tub.
- Soak the entire body (from the neck down) or affected areas only (such as the legs) for 10 minutes.
- Rinse off with warm water and quickly dry with a towel to avoid chills.
The premise behind the bleach bath recommendation is that the chlorine is a very effective sanitizer.
No argument there!
Chlorine does kill the bacteria associated with all types of skin infections including the staph from eczema lesions or MRSA, the mutated superbug with the scary-sounding name Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Band-Aid Approach
While it may sound harmless enough at first, for most people, embracing chlorine baths as the long-term solution to their chronic skin problems won’t prove to be a lasting solution at all.
In no way is a bleach bath related or similar to the benefits achieved from a detoxification bath.
According to Carrie Perez, MRSA expert and founder of MRSASupportGroup and EMFdetective:
During my initial research [on MRSA], I found another mom with a similar situation as my own (she and her daughter were both getting MRSA infections), and she explained to me how great they were doing. They had been taking bleach baths a few times per week and washing all their linens daily. Now, they only get infected every three months (instead of every month). She considered that success, but it didn’t sound like an acceptable solution to me.
Insightful observation!
What this woman is describing sounds more like a band-aid approach…resigning oneself to live with MRSA and managing the situation so it is bearable rather than an actual long-term solution that addresses root causes to eliminate it for good.
What about a bleach bath to eliminate the itch and discomfort of eczema? Here’s what Jennifer Roberge, founder of The Eczema Company has to say:
While bleach does kill bacteria like staph that can trigger infections in those with eczema, it is a very harsh chemical and can severely dry out the skin, ultimately making things worse!
The Real Problem with Chlorine
The basic issue with a bleach bath for chronic skin ailments is that you are trading one problem for another: pathogenic bacteria for a toxic chemical.
Talk about picking your poison!
People seem to forget that chlorine is an extremely toxic chemical and one that very effectively destroys beneficial gut flora whether it ingested via chlorinated tap water (hopefully you have a whole house water filter), absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin during a bleach bath (or even a regular bath in chlorinated tap water), or inhaled as toxic chlorine fumes during a shower.
Here’s the kicker.
Ultimately, it is a severely unbalanced gut environment with insufficient populations of beneficial microbes that are causing the eczema problems and/or MRSA infections in the first place!
Embracing the practice of bleach baths, while it may provide welcome relief in the short term, is ultimately going to make the problem worse by further decimating friendly bacteria in the gut and on the skin.
The bleach dries out the skin terribly too, which negatively affects the natural pH.
This is the perfect storm that provides free rein to pathogenic bacteria to entrench and thrive even more causing further skin irritation and infection.
What About Chlorinated Pools?
For those who cannot tolerate bleach baths, frequent dips in swimming pools are sometimes suggested instead.
But this strategy has its own set of health dangers.
Like bleach baths, swimming in chlorinated pools results in inhalation of chlorine fumes and absorption of the chemical into the bloodstream via the skin, both of which harm beneficial gut flora.
The inhalation problems are particularly problematic with indoor pools.
Michael Plewa, professor of genetics at the University of Illinois, has found in his research that pool chemicals contribute to health problems such as asthma and bladder cancer.
This is due not just to the chlorine, but more noxious agents created when pool disinfectants combine with organic matter in the pool water, such as sweat, hair, and urine, or nitrogen-rich substances found in personal care products.
Love swimming in chlorinated pools? Safe chlorinated pool swimming guidelines suggest doing so only occasionally, selecting outdoor pool locations, and rinsing off before entering the pool and immediately after swimming.
Certainly, it’s not a good idea to consider frequent swims in chlorinated pools to resolve problems with eczema or MRSA infections.
Watch out for Vetericyn!
Lately, I have noticed emails and comments from readers singing the praises of Vetericyn in combating MRSA and other staph infections of the skin.
Vetericyn is a family of animal wound and skincare products. The FDA-approved form for humans is called Puracyn Plus.
Unfortunately, while the manufacturer of Vetericyn claims the product is totally nontoxic, pH-balanced, and safe, the active ingredient is hypochlorous acid…essentially a bleach bath in a bottle!
This is because hypochlorous acid is formed when chlorine dissolves in water.
Don’t be fooled by Vetericyn or products like it, such as Hibiclens, a chemical disinfectant also recommended for bathing purposes by infectious disease physicians.
Ultimately, these products are only addressing the topical symptoms of MRSA and eczema, not the internal root causes.
The Solution is not Bleach
The bottom line is that adopting the practice of a bleach bath on a repetitive basis to address chronic issues with MRSA or eczema ultimately will not solve where the infections are coming from in the first place.
The skin infections of today are much hardier, stronger, and scarier (as in mutated) than in days of old, when one or two bleach baths would clear up a simple, one-time bacterial skin infection and that would be that.
There are many things that can kill MRSA and other bacterial nasties on a topical basis that won’t destroy the skin microbiome, leading to more problems down the road.
Chronic, recurrent issues with MRSA and eczema stem from internal, whole-body issues rooted in microbiome imbalance, both in the gut and the skin.
Natural Remedies That Work Without Chlorine
For chronic, entrenched skin problems that don’t heal with conventional methods, non-chemical, holistic approaches such as…
- Concentrated allicin supplements (the strongest natural, broadspectrum anti-microbial). Topical allicin in combination is even more powerful.
- Silver (external use only)
- Oregano oil
- Activated charcoal (AC)
…among others are far more effective depending on how the MRSA is manifesting and the location on the body.
For natural eczema remedies, the linked article outlines doctor-approved, natural options for healing from within.
In summary, skip the bleach bath for chronic skin issues. It is a band-aid approach that does not solve the root causes.
Hi Sarah,
I think bleach bath seems to be dangerous. Is there any other way to treat such disease without having bleach bath? I don’t think I recommend this to a friend, but if a doctor recommends, then there is no other way. Thank you for sharing.
I have students in my class who have eczema and their dermatologist suggested bleach bath, so even though you say no, a Dr and a few other dermatologists a I know say yes. However it is not done daily but for acute flair ups .
I have gotten a staph skin infection every 4-5 years but if I get it, I can’t shake it. Even with some of the most powerful and reserved antibiotics. It will come back. Have no other health issues. And eventually it just stops coming back and makes an appearance years later. I’ve always taken probiotics but not for this reason. And I don’t buy skin infections like this result from an imbalance in the gut. No way mine does. I’ve also found anything holistict not only to be ineffective but to allow the infection to further progress. Haven’t tried bleach or swimming but I’d far rather do that than use holistic approaches which let the problem worsen. The bacteria colony on the skin needs to be killed or the source of the Bacteria such as a loved one who is not affected by it, needs to be identified. Many people have bacteria on their skin but it doesn’t affect them.
Holistic stuff is a load of BS
Do you have a probiotic you recommend? I’ve long suspected my daughter needs internal gut healing.
I disagree with this article all the way. My daughter has several allergies including food, environment, chemical and metal. Avoiding all of these things has helped tremendously but she still has eczema. She takes probiotics daily to heal her gut as well as antihistamines. Bleach baths really help a lot. We do them about once every 2 weeks. It’s important to moisturize and wet wrap after the bath. They have been crucial for her healing and keeping infection away. They should be used in conjunction with other remedies. This article could keep people away from a therapy that could be very helpful for them. Don’t want to do bleach? Try a vinegar bath. Vinegar is antiseptic and helps with Ph balance.
Vinegar baths are fine. Bleach is not. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/best-vinegar-bath-for-detoxification/
Our sons eczema was from food allergies. Once we changed his diet he was free from suffering.
Paul, how long did you give the bleach baths? weeks, months? I gave my son 2 bb’s in 2 days and now I am not so sure about them, even though he was great the whole night and didn’t scratch his feet once. It almost seemed to be worse the next day. Is this what happened to you too?
Sarah,
What are your thoughts on using bleach to do laundry ?? How do you keep your whites white?
Thanks!!
I do not use chlorine for laundry and never have. Have you tried green, nonchlorine bleaches instead? They work great.
I have never heard of green non chlorine bleach . Do you have a brand that you can recommend? Thanks!
My daughter’s eczema improved and then got much, much worse after starting regular bleach baths that was the suggestion at her well baby checkup. I wish we had never started them. I am now convinced that internal healing is the way to go. Do you suggest GAPS or Autoimmune Paleo for gut healing?
Thank you for this! I was recently told that bleach baths were the best thing for my toddler with severe eczema. I am at my wits end. I had no idea dietary change would be the most effective route to healing!