Best Baths for Eczema

The best my eczema has been in while was after I spent two hours two days in a row in a pool in Key West in January. There were lots of confounding factors – I’d just wrapped up a stressful week at work and was having fun at a bachelorette party with friends. It was also sunny, and I hadn’t really seen the sun for a while. That said, I’m convinced steeping my body in the chlorinated water for 2+ hours two days in a row did wonders for my eczema. Was this one of the best baths for eczema?

If you look up “swimming and eczema” though, it seems the composition of chemicals individual pools use really matters. If I ever own a pool, I’m going to call up this hotel and get their exact recipe! I haven’t noticed such an extreme change from 10 minute bleach baths (this is the recommended length), but I plan to swim laps outdoors this summer to see if I can replicate the Key West effect.

NOTE: I find bleach baths are only effective if my skin is really oozy and yellowing due to extreme itching. Taking a bleach bath seems to calm it a bit an help prevent (any further) infection, but in my case, they certainly don’t heal the eczema or cause it to improve rapidly. In my opinion, bleach baths are not some of the best baths for eczema.

I was frankly really worried about bleach baths the first time I decided to try one. I was just so desperate. My skin on my arms was so oozy and yellow and I was seriously concerned about infection. Side note – I did get an infection from scratching my eczema on my leg. This ended up being a disgusting, painful, staph-filled abscess that exploded at urgent care shortly after I checked in. I will spare you the details.

Back to bleach baths. I assumed bathing in bleach would really hurt and sting. Because the bath is so diluted (ask your doctor for a handout), it doesn’t burn. At least, it didn’t burn in my case. It’s still a bit unnerving though to be literally bathing in bleach. I bleach bath in super desperate times only, now.

Oatmeal baths for eczema:

I think this one must only help children. It did absolutely nothing for me as an adult. If anything, I was more itchy in the oatmeal bath and afterwards. I also think I tend to react negatively to oatmeal in general. Overall – would not recommend, but if you’re going to try an oatmeal bath, make your own oatmeal powder rather than spending a fortune on Aveeno’s Oatmeal Bath packs.

Dead Sea Salt & Epsom salt baths for eczema:

I think these may have helped, marginally. r/Eczema loves these.

I certainly felt like my skin was softer after taking these baths, and I found them very relaxing. They’re far more relaxing than bleach baths, that’s for sure.

I trust the Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Brand (I would skip any fragranced options), and my favorite brand of dead sea salt, which I marginally prefer to Epsom salt, is this one, mostly because it comes in a 19lb option, and I was using a lot of it.

Dead sea salt baths really saved me when my skin was at its absolute worst. I’d have to take multiple baths every day, including during the work day, just to cope. If you haven’t tried this yet, it may be worth a shot!

Other baths

You name it, I’ve bathed in it. Kind of kidding, but also not really. I’ve bathed in Brewer’s yeast, chamomile petals, calendula petals chamomile water, apple cider vinegar, and olive (and other) oils to name a few off the top of my head. They were all “meh”, frankly.

I do just enjoy baths though. If you’re fortunate enough to have a soaking tub at home, I hope you take advantage of it in treating your eczema. Apparently, baths allow the skin to retain water whereas showers drain the skin of moisture. So, bathe away!

Again. I am not a doctor. None of this is medical advice.