EFN

Researchers with Northwestern University reported that children who suffer with the dry-skin disorder, eczema, may effectively be treated by soaking in baths containing diluted household bleach twice a week.

The kids that received the combination treatment had significantly larger decreases in the extent and severity of their eczema at one month and three months compared with those who used intranasal placebo and took regular baths, according to Amy Paller, M.D., of Northwestern University in Chicago, and colleagues.

The study consisted of 31 kids ages 6 months to 17 years with eczema, which comes out today in the journal Pediatrics. For the half who bathed for 5 to 10 minutes twice a week over three months in a bathtub full of water mixed with 1/2 cup of bleach, improvement was so swift and pronounced that the study was stopped early so the kids bathing in plain water mixed with placebo could benefit from the bleach.

The regular treatment of oral and topical antibiotics increases the danger of bacterial resistance, something doctors try to avoid, particularly in children. Bleach kills the bacteria however does not have the same risk of creating bacterial resistance.

The bleach bath is a affordable, uncomplicated and safe treatment that drastically improves the state of the skin in addition to reduces flare-ups of eczema, which affects 17 percent of school-age children.