Earlier this year, a study reported in Pediatrics  found a relatively inexpensive but surprisingly successful solution for children suffering eczema – a dilute bleach bath. In fact, the results were so remarkable and so quick that the Northwestern University study was terminated early so that the placebo group could benefit. On the other hand, bleach can be hazardous. So if your child is suffering from eczema, should you try a bleach bath?

Well, that depends. The study involved 31 children, all of whom had moderate to severe eczema and all who were infected with staphylococcus. That is the fact about the study that was left out of much of the news media coverage. The bleach bath was successful in treating children with chronic eczema (atopic dermatitis) infected with Staphylococcus aureaus, and only those parts of the body covered by the bath water.

Staph infections frequently accompany eczema. Some research has reported that as many as 90% of people suffering from eczema have staph on their skin, as compared to 25% of the population without eczema. A staph infection can exacerbate eczema's symptoms.

So the dilute bleach bath makes sense. Bleach's antibacterial property can improve a child's skin infection from staph bacteria. Studies have found a correlation between the number of bacteria on the skin and eczema's severity. In the study, the group used 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach in a full …

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