'Bleach bath' benefit for eczema (DILUTE BLEACH)

[steven johnson]

There is a direct correlation between the number of bacteria on the skin and the severity of eczema. In an experiment adding a half of a cup of sodium hypochlorite per full tub or normal water baths for five to 10 minutes twice a week for three months significantly improved eczema in the body parts which were immersed.

This is potentially hazardous on several levels and shouldn't be done without an expert's guidance.

Adding bleach to the bath may be an effective treatment for chronic eczema, US researchers say.

In a study of 31 children, there was significant improvement in eczema in those who had diluted bleach baths compared with normal baths.

The Pediatrics study also showed improvements were only on parts of the body submerged in the bath.

UK experts stressed the treatment could be extremely dangerous and should only be done under the care of a specialist.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8015995.stm

[MADem]

1. Like a swimming pool, more or less. A bit stronger perhaps.

What's a "full tub?" I've seen so many varieties and sizes of tubs that I couldn't even guess what a "full tub" is.

What cracks me up about these reports is the way they go on and on that this is a cure-all, and then say "Oh, but don't, whatever you do, do this yourself!! Go to a doctor and let him tell you it's OK!""

The results were so dramatic that they stopped the trial--which tells us that it works.

I'll bet a lot of parents with suffering kids aren't waiting for the doc, even though they say so.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Bear in mind

that doctors visits here don't cost anything at all - National Health Service. Aside from that I can't really see our doctors agreeing to give advice on this which is very iffy subject when it comes to how much to use.

Potassium permanganate has been used for years in this way - I used it when I was a kid in the early fifties for a foot fungal infection - works a treat. At least you get a suntan too with that. :)

[MADem]

3. I was "on the National Health" for a short while.

It was an odd arrangement that the US government had with the UK government for people in remote situations. I got fast tracked to the doc compared to my neighbors (so they said), but I did have to wait a while for for my appointment. I rarely get sick so I didn't make much use of it.

I'm guessing that the actual study gives more precise measurements than "half a cup per tub" but then, I can't see that amount killing anyone even in a smaller tub, so long as they kept it out of their eyes.

[dipsydoodle]

4. They've clamped down on that of late.

In the old days any foreign tourists would've treated under the NHS but these days there are oh too many Pakistanis etc coming here on "holiday" with serious medical conditions expecting free treatment - in their dreams.

I'm sure such issues as treatment for road traffic accidents remain free especially for USA visitors who have the odd habit of looking the wrong way before crossing the road having overlooked the fact we drive on the left.

[Why Syzygy]

5. LOL!

Never thought of that. May be much like Las Vegas where a pedestrian tourist is struck every five minutes due to looking up at all the dazzle.

[dipsydoodle]

7. I was aware of that for a sad reason

Back in 1988, when my wife had her first brain op at the National Hospital here in London, there was an American youngster who was over here to study. She'd only been here 6 weeks before such an accident caused serious brain injuries. She was in a coma - unlikely to recover. My daughter and I used to chat to her mother who needless had come over here to be with her daughter.

So yes - do please be aware.

[MADem]

10. I wasn't a "foreign tourist." It was a STATUS OF FORCES arrangement.

I was working in UK, not visiting. British Officers in the US were afforded TRICARE benefits (which include civilian medical care if you're out in the boonies), and US Officers were put on the "national health" if there were no military clinics nearby.

[patrice]

6. My mother taught us to do that for her grandchildren's chiggers.

Worked everytime; chiggers stopped itching and kids stopped scratching.

[Spangle]

8. I got a funny one about that

Little cousin came down from the North and played in our woods. When the boys got home, they were covered with chiggers and seed ticks. A nice size one latched in some sensitive areas.

My Mother fixed a bleach bath for the boys. Her grand son didn't question, but jumped right in. He had never had one in his life, but he was willing to try anything at that point.

Her grand-nephew from the North through a fit and refused to get in. He threw a major fit and saidhe was going to 'tell' his GrandMother. He was told to get it over with, or he was going to have help to get the job done. Which would have been a group of females doing the scrubing. Which I believe we sorta ended up doing.

When he told his Grand-Ma, he got his butt spanked for being an idiot.

That now grown man is still and idiot. LOL! But we love him anyway. And yes, we do remind him of how abusive we were to him on that day. Tee hee.. He was mad, but he was truely thankful.

[patrice]

9. Ha! What a picture!!! Boys, being what they are, I'll bet a few of the women

in the family got just a little even for ______________________. I know they would have in our house!

[astral]

11. safer!

Instead of bleach, bathe in various combinations of borax, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, lemon juice.

[Celebration]

12. yeah, I was thinking hydrogen peroxide also

Pretty common for people to take baths in hydrogen peroxide!