The 6 Types Of Baths To Give You Eczema Relief (Plus, a giveaway!)

Did you know that doing regular bath soaks and bath treatments can really help eczema sufferers find relief from the itching, burning and inflammation?

Bath soaks can be very soothing and help restore vital nutrients like trace minerals and antioxidants that the body can easily be depleted of. Certain baths can even help restore the body’s ph balance and help relieve the pain associated with atopic dermatitis.

Depending on what you add to your bath, they can have different effects on your skin, but overall, they can help to:

• Calm the eczema flare ups and inflammation
• Leave the skin feeling more moisturized
• Boost the immune system
• Calm and relax the nervous system before bed
• Helps absorb nutrients

According to nutritional pioneer Dr. Hazel Parcells, 65% of body cleansing is achieved via the skin! This is why it can be important to incorporate detox baths to help your skin.

In North America, bathing is viewed more for relaxation than detoxification as a general rule. However, our body’s detoxification abilities can be more easily maintained over the long term with the regular incorporation of detox baths.

The 6 types of bath to help your eczema

Below are the different baths below that you can try incorporating into your bathing routine to help bring you relief from atopic dermatitis/eczema:

1. Conqueror Calming Bath Treatment
2. Coconut Oil Bath
3. Salt Bath
4. Oatmeal Bath
5. Apple Cider Vinegar bath
6. Bleach Baths

The great thing is that you can even combine several of them into one bath!

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1. Conqueror Calming Bath Treatment

*Enter the giveaway below by December to win a free bath treatment product!*

In case you want a bath treatment that combines different healing ingredients together, I recently launched a Calming Bath Treatment that can help bring you relief, nourish your skin, moisturize it, and help you reduce your eczema flare ups. During my biggest flare ups, my skin was so severely cracked, dry, and painful. I used this bath soak and it helped so much to add moisture and reduce the inflammation and the pain.

I would also use this as a foot or leg soak if my flares were bad. I decided that I wanted to create something all natural for others (because it had helped me in the same way), so I ended up creating a Calming Bath Treatment made with all natural ingredients.

I wanted the very best ingredients in this, so I originally tested different versions of this (e.g. some with epsom salts, some without), and I found that most people felt that it was most moisturizing when I included dead sea salts in the bath.

I also ended up using drug grade sodium bicarbonate, which is the highest grade that is available (there are cooking forms that are available, however, they may often contain a small amount of anti-caking agent to help it flow better for baking).

I was so happy when one of my readers mentioned that it helped him better than epsom salt baths! 🙂

Each of the main ingredients in the bath soak are all natural and here are the benefits of each of them:

Colloidal Oatmeal: Rich in beta-glucans, which are polysaccharides that can reduce skin inflammation, activate immune cells in the skin and stimulate collagen deposition – making it a natural skin healer. When soaked in bath water, it also allows for superior beta-glucan absorption.

Dead Sea Salt: Assist in restoring depleted minerals, help with skin hydration and regeneration, and act as a mild antiseptic. They can also reduce and remove the impurities and bacteria responsible for the irritation of eczema symptoms.

Vitamin C: Helps to neutralize the effect of chlorine that can be found in tap water which can have harmful effects on the skin.

Coconut Milk Powder: Packed with vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5, and B6, as well as iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Sodium Bicarbonate: Helps to soothe irritated skin and contains an anti fungal and antiseptic qualities which clears bacteria from irritated eczema or dermatitis. It also helps to reduce inflammation, rashes and detoxify and strengthen the skin to prevent flare ups.

You can learn more about it by clicking here or enter the giveaway below.

Enter the giveaway below

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Quick tip: I have found that adding a layer of coconut oil before and after your bath to your skin really helps to seal and lock in the moisture even more. 

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2. ​Coconut Oil Bath

Aside from my Calming Bath Treatment, there are also other bath treatments that you can do!

Raw organic coconut oil (that is unrefined) is a great all-natural moisturizer for eczema (I love this brand of coconut oil). This oil can penetrate the skin barrier deeper than your average eczema moisturizer because of its low molecular weight and how it bonds with proteins. Coconut oil also contains vitamin E (antioxidant rich vitamin to help fight free radicals), K and iron.

Plus, the lauric acid in coconut oil converts to monolaurin, a monoglyceride compound which exhibits antiviral, antimicrobial, anti protozoal and anti fungal properties that help to starve off infection, fight of yeasts and fungus! (Breast milk is the only other natural source that contains such a high concentration of lauric acid.) It is a great oil to help alleviate itchy, inflamed eczema.

Method:

• Draw a warm bath.
• Add 2 tbsp – ¼ cup of coconut oil to the bath (you can add more or less depending on how oily you want it to be – but be careful that if it’s too greasy, it can also aggravate the skin). If the coconut oil is hard, it will melt in the warm water in the tub.
• Consider adding ¼ cup Epsom salt which can bring down inflammation, help clean the eczema and decrease bacteria.
• Make sure the coconut oil and Epsom salt is thoroughly mixed into the warm water.
• Soak for at least 15 minutes, pouring over the shoulders.
• After 15 minutes, rinse off with warm water to make sure the salt is fully washed off.
• Pat skin dry with a clean towel and rub coconut oil onto the skin.
• Consider dressing in eczema clothing made with tencel®. This can help stop the itch, prevent bacteria build-up, keep the coconut oil in place for maximum treatment and is less messy than wearing regular clothing.B
• BE CAREFUL when exiting the bath as coconut oil can leave the tub slippery!

 

3. Salt Bath

Salt is natural and can have a therapeutic, detoxing and cleansing effect for eczema sufferers. There are several types of bath salts that can be used (listed below).

When we bathe in a salt solution bath, we help to pull some toxins that we have accumulated out of our skin through a process called reverse osmosis. Salt baths can relieve the skin from the redness, cuts, inflammation, itch and can also soften the skin. It’s also great for sore muscles, and even bronchial asthma (as having asthma can be common with eczema sufferers). Soaking in a salt bath can help increase the circulation in the body and you will get the benefits of all of the minerals that are in the salts.

There are 3 types of salt baths that you can do:

1. Epsom Salts:

These are named after the area in England where the salts are found in a natural spring. You can purchase it in drugstores for just a few dollars. In water, the salt breaks down into magnesium and sulfate. When you soak in this type of bath, these minerals get absorbed into the skin, relaxing the body, improving blood flow and oxygenation throughout the body and helps relieve inflammation. (magnesium flakes can be used and are known to be absorbed more easily)

You can find a more detailed blog post on epsom salt baths here.

2. Dead Sea Salts:

These come from the Dead Sea which is located between Israel and Jordan, and is known to contain 21 minerals including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, bromide, iodine, sodium, zinc and potassium. The Dead Sea is landlocked and in the lowest valley on earth. All the minerals of the surrounding countryside get washed into one pool, which in turn gets baked by the sun. This concentrates the salts so much that the Dead Sea is 10 times as salty as the ocean!

3. Himalayan Pink Salt:

This is mined from ancient oceans deep in the geologic veins of the Himalayan Mountains which has been protected from human pollution, making it one of the purest form of natural salt on Earth today. It contains 84 nourishing trace elements and minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron. Having regular Himalayan salt baths can easily boost your immunity, regulate your pH balance, fight off infections such as viral and bacterial assaults on the skin and body, relieve inflammation and soften the skin.

Method:

• Choose your salt and draw a warm bath.
• Add the salt: you can add 2 cups for a full bath, 1 cup for a half bath, and an 1/8 cup for a baby bath. You can also add different essential oils to your bath for more therapeutic benefits.
• For babies, they should only soak for 10-20 minutes.
• Adults can soak in the bath for 20-30 minutes with the salts.
• Pat skin dry with a clean towel and immediately apply your favourite moisturizer or oil.
• Consider wearing eczema clothing stops the itch and keeps emollients in place for effective treatment.
• Note: You will need to be patient, as sometimes salt baths take 10 days to see a difference in the skin.

 

4. Oatmeal Bath

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 symptoms of chicken pox before immunizations made this disease disappear. These baths are also used for when someone comes in contact with poison ivy.

Colloidal oatmeal baths can also help normalize the skin’s pH, help soften, moisturize and protect the skin from exterior irritants. The Saponins, which is a chemical found in oatmeal, allow the oatmeal to function as a natural cleanser by absorbing dirt, oil and odor. Oatmeal also contains phenols and flavonoids are antioxidants that provide protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and help to fight free radicals. The presence of avenacins found in oatmeal suggests that it may also have some anti fungal properties.

Method:

• Buy a nut milk bag (can be found online at Amazon, Target or Bed Bath and Beyond). You can skip this step, but it prevents having a mess in the tub.
• Take 1 cup oats and put into a blender or food processor and blend on medium high for 1 minute.
• Add the blended oats to a nut milk bag.
• Fill the tub with warm water and add the bag to the water.
• Soak in the tub for 15-30 minutes.
• After, rinse off well, pat dry with a clean towel and immediately apply your favourite moisturizer.
• Consider wearing eczema clothing stops the itch and keeps emollients in place for effective treatment.
• For extra relief, try adding 1/2 cup epsom salt or coconut oil.
• Note: Unless your child has a trigger related to oatmeal, an oatmeal bath will not hurt them and can provide amazing relief.

 

5. Apple Cider Vinegar bath

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is used for eczema relief, to help treat outbreaks, and to prevent eczema flares (I love this brand here). Vinegar has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and contains all kinds of immune-boosting mineral salts, vitamin B1, riboflavin, an array of vitamins, sulphur, and acetic acid.

Apple cider vinegar is very alkalizing for the body and for the skin. The result is that vinegar is great to help combat inflammation, skin infections, and to take care of yeast overgrowth. The natural astringent quality of the vinegar helps to balance the skin’s pH levels. Make sure to only get organic raw apple cider vinegar and always choose one with the “mother” in it, as this is unfiltered, unpasteurized and unrefined, making it contain a colony of beneficial bacteria.

It’s important to make sure to dilute the ACV before applying it to the skin, as it can be too strong to apply directly (and may cause some stinging or burning). If you find that your skin reacts to the ACV, dilute it and add more water (you can even use a cotton pad to spot treat your affected areas if you don’t want to bathe in it).

Method:

• Mix 2 cups of AVC into a warm bath if using a tub or 4 teaspoons per gallon if using a baby tub.
• Soak in the bath for 20-30 minutes (you can also mix it with my Conqueror Calming Bath Treatment, epsom salts or oatmeal baths) .
• Gently pat the skin dry with a soft, clean cotton towel. Let the skin slightly moist.
• Apply your favourite moisturizer immediately while the skin is still damp.
• Consider wearing eczema clothing stops the itch and keeps emollients in place for effective treatment.
• Repeat 1-3 times a week for best results.
• Note: On its own, vinegar can be very drying, so always moisturize immediately after your bath.

 

6. Bleach Bath

Before we talk about bleach baths – I want to bring to your attention that while bleach baths are often recommended as safe and effective by dermatologists, they are also very controversial.

I personally did them a few times as a teenager. I found that it really helped to soften my skin, but according to The Healthy Economist, the issue is that bleach is still very toxic to the body. In her words, she says that:

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“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 tap water, 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.

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.

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!”

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Nonetheless, dermatologists believe that properly diluted bleach baths can be an effective way for adults and children to control their eczema flares. Adding bleach to your bath water can help to control bacteria on the skin and decrease infections. This is a very low concentration of bleach and is similar to a swimming pool at about 0.005%.

However, it is best to consult with a physician before trying a bleach bath.
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Never put anything other than bleach into the bath water. Bleach can react to the other ingredients and become extremely harmful.

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.

Bleach Bath Instructions:

• 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

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.

Note: Be cautious when handling the bleach. Avoid direct contact with the undiluted bleach. Also, be careful to protect your clothing and towels.

Bleach Bath Directions:

• Mix the bleach and the water well before entering the bath.
• Soak in the bath for 5-10 minutes. ONLY soak from the neck down or specifically soak the affected areas, DO NOT submerge your head. Rinse the skin with clean warm water.
• DO NOT rub the skin, only gently pat it dry with a soft, cotton towel. Leave the skin slightly moist.
• Moisturize immediately while the skin is still damp.
• Repeat 2-3 times a week.
• Consider wearing eczema clothing to stop the itch and keep the emollients in place for effective treatment.
• 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 trouble shooting 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.

Although bleach baths can be an effective bath remedy for eczema sufferers, providing some short term relief, it’s not a long term solution.

Here is more info on the dangers of long term bleach bath use.

However, for chronic, entrenched skin problems that don’t heal with conventional methods, non-chemical, holistic approaches such as allicin (garlic), colloidal silver, oregano oil, activated charcoal (AC), and others are far more effective depending on how the MRSA is manifesting and the location on the body.

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Have you tried any of these baths and have they helped you?