Bleach Baths May Help Kids with Eczema

(WUSA)-- Eczema is an itchy, painful skin condition that affects millions of Americans. In the pediatric population, as many as 1 in 5 school-aged children have the condition, known medically as atopic dermatitis.

Pediatric dermatologists at Northwestern University School of Medicine say their clinical trial showed mild bleach baths can be a highly-effective treatment.

The study of 31 children, ages 6 months to 17 years, called for patients to soak in bath water containing one-quarter cup of household bleach.

Join the discussion on dc.momslikeme.com

Half the patients took "bleach" baths, and the others took regular "placebo" baths for comparison.

Kids who got the bleach baths had a reduction in the severity of their eczema that was five times greater than the control group.

Doctors stopped the three-month study early so that all the children could benefit from this low-tech, low-cost home remedy.

The study design called for patients to soak in the mild bleach baths twice a week, but study leaders say more frequent baths may be helpful during eczema flare-ups.

Doctors say the bleach kills staph bacteria on the skin, which is present in 90% of people with eczema, and often requires antibiotic treatment.