Baths can be very beneficial for managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS); however, keep in mind that heat can cause inflammation. If you find that baths are aggravating your symptoms, consider using cool running water in your tub after a warm bath or applying a cold cloth or ice packs to your abscesses or wounds after bathing.
If you don't have access to a tub, there are alternative methods. You can make moist wet packs using the ingredients listed below, or alternate with cold packs to reduce inflammation.
Note: Depending on your individual symptoms and HS stage, bathing could possibly worsen your abscesses or wounds and, in some cases, may lead to cellulitis. Keep your baths short (no more than 20 minutes at a time) and always assess your individual condition. Photo via Healthline.
Apple Cider Vinegar Bath
When filling your bath with warm or hot water, add 1 to 2 cups of apple cider vinegar. Soak for 20 minutes or less.
Diluted Bleach Bath
Diluted bleach baths could potentially assist in symptom control for many skin conditions, including HS. However, bleach baths may not be for you if you have:
● Certain types of eczema
● Sensitive skin
● Asthma
● Current medications or cosmetics that thin the skin and may cause tearing, such as anti-aging retinol treatments, topical corticosteroids, or prescription blood thinners
Cautions:
● If you have open abscesses or wounds, limit your bleach bath to areas of your body without open wounds.
● You could experience dry skin if you use too much bleach or take bleach baths too often. If your skin is cracked or overly dry, consider avoiding bleach baths or using an alternative.
● Bleach baths should not replace regular bathing and hygiene practices.
● If your skin is more sensitive, do a test spot first to ensure it does not become too dry or irritated.
● Do not submerge your head, and avoid getting diluted bleach in your eyes.
● Rinse off with fresh water after your bath.
● The National Eczema Association recommends taking a bleach bath no more than 2 to 3 times per week.
● Do not apply undiluted bleach directly to the skin.
● Bleach baths are impractical for infections like Staphylococcus aureus; regular plain water can be just as adequate. For children under the age of 2, under the advice of a pediatrician, use only 1 teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water.
Common Bleach Bath Ratio: Add ¼ to ½ cup of common 5% household bleach to a bathtub full of water. Soak only the affected part of your skin for about 10 minutes, a maximum of 2 times per week.
Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt Bath
Fill your tub with warm or hot water. Add approximately ¼ cup of Himalayan salt or sea salt. Soak for no more than 20 minutes.
Epsom Salt Bath
To prepare an Epsom salt bath, add 1 cup of food-grade 100% pure Epsom salt to your bathtub filled with hot water—as hot as you can tolerate. Once the tub is about halfway filled, sprinkle the salt in and stir the water with your hand to help it dissolve. Once the tub is full, get in and submerge yourself up to your neck. Soak for at least 20 minutes.
Epsom Salt Detox Bath
For a detox bath, use:
● 1 cup of food-grade 100% pure Epsom salt
● ½ cup of baking soda
● 4 tablespoons of ground ginger (more or less, depending on your tolerance*)
Fill your bathtub with hot water—as hot as you can tolerate. When the tub is about halfway full, add the Epsom salt, baking soda, and ginger, stirring the water with your hand to help them dissolve. Once the tub is full, submerge yourself up to your neck and soak for no more than 20 minutes*.
Note: The ginger in this detox bath will make you sweat a lot! Sweating is one of the best (and cheapest) ways to detoxify. Ginger is also a powerful antioxidant with potent anti-inflammatory properties, making it excellent for your skin.
If you’ve never done this before, 20 minutes is plenty of time. The added ginger will cause you to sweat more than usual and feel quite hot; soaking for any longer may be too intense.
After the bath, you may continue to perspire for the next hour or so. Wearing light clothing or a towel to make changing easy. Just as you would after a massage or sauna treatment, hydrate afterward.
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