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. You have to wonder if bleach will be recommended for C. Auris infections too. This latest superbug, a fatal fungus, is resistant to all 3 classes of anti-fungal drugs.
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 and can ultimately make these situations worse over time.
Before identifying the health risks of a bleach bath and why it probably won’t work long term for MRSA or eczema in most cases, let’s first talk about the specifics of a chlorine bath.
What is a Chlorine 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.
Bleach Baths: A Band-Aid Approach
While it may sound harmless enough at first, unfortunately 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,
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 got 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 endorsing the benefits of bleach baths is describing sounds more like a band-aid approach to resigning oneself with living with MRSA and managing the situation so it is bearable rather than an actual long-term solution to eliminating MRSA infections 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 a Bleach Bath
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 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 Instead of Bleach Baths?
For those that 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 on this blog singing the praises of vetericyn in combating MRSA infections or other staph infections of the skin.
Vetericyn is a family of animal wound and skincare products. The FDA approved form of vetericyn 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, which is 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 to Chronic Skin Infections 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. However, this is not where the health problem is ultimately rooted. Chronic, recurrent issues with MRSA and eczema stem from internal, whole-body issues rooted in gut imbalance (2).
For example, Vetericyn might be fine for infection prevention for cuts and wounds (surgical/hospital use) or very superficial MRSA infections that won’t recur. However, for chronic, entrenched skin problems that don’t heal with conventional methods, non-chemical, holistic approaches such as allicin, silver, oregano oil (brand), activated charcoal (AC), and others are far more effective depending on how the MRSA is manifesting and the location on the body.
For more information, the linked article outlines effective, nontoxic, dietary and supplement approaches for MRSA treatment. And, this linked article outlines doctor-approved, natural eczema remedies.
Skip the bleach bath!
I’d like to know if the author has actually had a recurring staph infection…. sitting in my bleach bath now
My daughter had impetigo twice in 2 months. Even though the bleach bath sounded scary, it worked and dried up the blisters immediately and decreased her healing time. The downside is that it dries out your skin terribly and her feet are peeling so much that she has to go to bed with moisturizer and socks on. But at least the infection is going away and not spreading.
Thanks for your input. I also have bumps/acne/rash on my face that itch and are persistent. I am going to try a very diluted beach solution to see if I can get relief.
Sarah’s only good point is that bleach dries the skin. I have a persistent infection on my face that looks like acne but is not. Bleach is the only thing & I MEAN ONLY THING THAT WORKS. Ive tried everything. Bleach worked in one day what thousands of dollars on other products did not. Bleach is one of the only products that bacteria cannot become resistant to. Obviously the writer of this article is either bought out or has never met anyone with a serious skin condition that could only be solved with bleach. Obviously its not good to put anything on your skin you dont need but when bleach is the only thing that works USE IT. It wont kill you I promise if used correctly.
In bleach baths you only add a very small amount of bleach to a full bath. It’s no more dangerous than chlorine levels in a swimming pool. Both my children have used them and had good positive results from bleach baths. They sound scary but the quantity involved in not within a dangerous level. They will dry your skin if you don’t moisturise fully as soon as you get out of the bath and cream whilst your skin is warm and damp. However, everyone suffering from eczema is different and what works for one person may not work for others. I have an article published on the topic if anyone would like to read it on our eczema support website.
Since when is swimming in a chlorinated pool a healthy habit? https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/the-dangers-of-chlorinated-pools-and-how-to-protect-yourself/
Unfortunately the author of this article has no idea what she is talking about in regards to HOCl. When HOCl when produced at 6 to 7 pH it is totally non-toxic and is safe even for open wound care. Before you make claims you should really do your research.
And … maybe you should talk to parents of children who have used bleach baths to understand how damaging and drying it actually is to the skin!
Unfortunately, I cannot tolerate bleach baths because the fumes make me sick, but I have used many natural treatments including medical grade allicin, manuka honey, silver, and essential oils. None of these helped even a little. Healing the gut is crucial, but I say if you need the baths and can tolerate them, go for it. For me, it’s still antibiotics when I have a flare-up until I find a more lasting solution
Bottom line, author is not a dermatologist so I tend to view her article with skepticism. That’ all!
This is absolutely not true they been using bleach for chronic wounds skin infections for many many years since the world wars Obviously this authors never heard of Dakin solution wound care clinics and doctors have been prescribing it forever is it the best approach in all cases probably not but in chronic cases it’s a lifesaver
My child has staph (low immune system due to disability) and we have an amazing doctor who does holistic as well as western medicine, so we are good on the gut front. Bleach baths were recommended by the dermatologist after a severe infection and she’s doing great, including her gut (we have her stool and urine tested). I would rather have potential side effects than for her to die of staph. Some people do better than others. Nothing is ever a one-size-fits-all approach.