Beneficial bath additives: Alternative remedies #5

Bath time usually signifies the end of the day and for children the undivided attention of a parent. Adding in lots of water equals fun. So if you can use bath time to soothe their skin so much the better! As well as emollient bath treatments, there are alternatives that other people use to help reduce the symptoms of eczema. We look at the range of beneficial bath additives for eczema. As always, there is no specific research suggests that any of these bath additives are clinically effective. We also do not recommend any particular treatment but are highlighting some of the options that people are known to try.

Bath Emollients

Bath emollients are moisturisers which are added to the bathwater. In the past they were commonly prescribed alongside regular emollient creams. However, recent research has questioned the effectiveness of these. As a result prescribing guidelines have been updated and these are no longer available on prescribed. They are still available over the counter. If, like us, you have a child who hates having anything smeared on their skin, bath emollients can be an effective way of getting at least some moisture into your child’s skin without an all-out battle before bedtime.

Rather than using a specific bath emollient, you can add your child’s regular emollient to the bath. You may need to add it to the hot water as you run the bath. Alternatively you could plaster your child in emollient before putting them in the bath.

Whichever approach you use, emollients will leave both the bathtub and your child very slippery. Take care!

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is known for its moisturising properties and is one of the traditional bath additives for eczema treatment. It is believed to help reduce inflammation. Many people see success with an oatmeal bath, particularly for severe eczema flares. The best way to create an oatmeal bath is to whizz oats to a blender to form a powder and then put the oat powder to a  clean cotton sock or a muslin bag. Hang the sock from the tap in the running water as you fill the bath tub. Hopefully, the child will experience moisturising properties from the oat soak. You can also put the powder directly into the bathwater, but this does mean more cleaning up. Itchy baby sells a great oatmeal-based bath powder that can be added directly to the bathwater.

Bleach

Research carried out by the National Eczema Association suggest bleach baths reduce inflammation and itching, although interestingly they don’t appear to affect the bacteria on the skin. You can find out more about using bleach bathes here.

A note of caution: concentrated bleach is nasty stuff and small children are magnets for danger. Get the bath ready and well mixed, check for any spillages and put the bleach bottle safely away before letting your little one into the bathroom. Some children may have a sensitivity to bleach and children with asthma may suffer a reaction to the fumes, in which case bleach baths should not be used. Bleach can also react to other ingredients, so it should be the only product in the bath.

Coconut oil

Another popular bath additive for eczema is coconut oil. Coconut oil is known for its moisturising properties and the fact that it can penetrate the skin barrier to give deeper moisturisation. It can also help those with eczema as it is antifungal and antimicrobial. Many people combine Epsom salt and coconut oil in a bath to help with both healing and moisturisation.

Despite their name, coconuts are actually a fruit so coconut oil should cause issues for children with nut allergies. However, it is possible (although very rare) to be allergic to coconuts. As with bath emollients, coconut oil can make both the bathtub and your child incredibly slippery.

Apple cider vinegar

Just like coconut oil, apple cider vinegar is antifungal. The vinegar is also antibacterial and can control the pH of the water, through alkalisation, which can help to control the yeast levels in the skin which can help those with eczema. 

With this treatment, there is very little research, so any side effects or problems are not yet evident. Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that apple cider vinegar can work well for adults with eczema on their face and necks but any beneficial effects are less marked in other cases.

Salts and baking powder

Adding table salt to bathwater to simulate seawater conditions has been known to help some people with eczema. It seems to reduce the stinging during severe flares. This means that saltwater may be helpful alongside other bath additives to help make the bath more comfortable for the child.

Epsom salts are another of the traditional bath additives for eczema. They also creates a condition similar to seawater, and the level of magnesium can help with skin healing and soothing. For a child, one cupful is enough. Many people believe Epsom salts are a natural and effective way to treat eczema, but as salts can feel drying on the skin after a bath, this treatment will need daily skin maintenance too, such as the soak and seal method. Basically soak and seal means you are locking in the moisture that a bath can give you. Leave the bath after no more than 15 minutes and pat the skin until it is damp before quickly applying your chosen topical medication.

If itching of eczema is particularly bad, then some believe that baking soda, either in the bath or as a paste can help to relieve itching and prevent the itch/scratch cycle. Some recommend using it in conjunction with Epsom salts.

Hopefully, this post has given you some useful ideas and food for thought. As with any treatment, it is wise to seek medical advice first and only choose options which you and your child are comfortable with.

Share your experiences

So much is hearsay or word of mouth when it comes to alternative treatments for eczema. We would love to hear about whether bath additives have worked for you personally.  

As well as sharing our experience of bringing up an eczema child (and favourite allergy-friendly recipes), ScratchSleeves also manufacture and sell our unique stay-on scratch mitts and PJs for itchy babies, toddlers and children. We now stock sizes from 0-adult in a range of colours. Visit our webshop for more information.