What Are Bleach Baths for Atopic Dermatitis?

Bleach baths have been an add-on AD treatment for some time. “Bleach baths are one of the older approaches for the treatment of eczema flares, [used because] they are easily accessible by most patients … are low-risk, and are inexpensive,” says Lauren Skudalski, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington, Connecticut.

Research indicates that bleach baths may strengthen the skin barrier, which is compromised in people who have AD. As mentioned, they may reduce itch and disease severity too. Bleach baths may also have an anti-inflammatory effect on skin. However they may work, they’re known to ease symptoms, which is why they’re often suggested to people with AD.

But adding bleach baths doesn’t mean that you can skip the other pillars of AD treatment. “Diluted bleach baths are an adjunct, not a replacement for standard therapy. Moisturization and appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment are the foundation of treatment,” says Dr. Stives.

One small study of 15 people with AD found that twice-a-week bleach baths for 12 weeks led to 87 percent of participants reporting improved sleep, while just over half saw a reduction in eczema severity and the amount of affected skin, as well as significantly less itch. The researchers did not find evidence that the bleach baths helped with the imbalance in the skin microbiome (collection of bacteria and other organisms), however.

After a bleach bath, you may notice an improvement in the way the eczema looks on the skin, Dr. Skudalski says. This means a reduction in the redness and thickness of a rash, she says, as well as how much skin is affected.

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