Give your child a bleach bath twice a week when their skin is dry, red, and itchy or infected (active eczema).
Make sure you store the bleach where children cannot reach it.
You can find bleach in the cleaning aisle at your supermarket. Choose one that is plain and has no added fragrance or detergent.
Bleaches come in different strengths.
Bleach gets weaker over time, so you may need to replace it with a fresh bottle. Make sure you store the bleach where children cannot reach it.
Value Extra Strength Bleach
Buy at: New World, Pak'n Save, Four Square
Strength: 4.2% bleach
Clor-o-gene
Buy at: New World, Pak'n Save, Four Square
Strength: 3.1% bleach
Necessities Bleach
Buy at: The Warehouse
Strength: 2.1% bleach
See these step by step instructions.
Commercial bleach products can change so please see your doctor if you are not sure or have any concerns.
See your doctor or nurse if your child's skin is irritated by the bath, or if infection occurs.
You might like to print out the handout Bleach bath instructions (PDF, 743KB) [1].
This content has been developed and approved by the Clinical Reference Group for the Paediatric Society NZ's Eczema Clinical Network, Te Rōpū Kiripai Hapori. Bleach baths for eczema (PDF, 743 KB). [1]
This page last reviewed 08 March 2019.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/images/Bleach%20Baths%20for%20Eczema%20Information%20Sheet.pdf
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1627%3Flanguage%3Dzh-hans