Has your dermatologist ever recommended bleach baths to help treat your hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) symptoms? If so, you may be wondering about the science behind this home remedy.

One myHSteam member wrote, “When I used to get bad boils in my groin area, I used to take baths, sometimes bleach baths, and that used to help a lot. The boils would drain.”

Others find that bleach baths are only minimally useful. One member wrote, “I have tried a bleach bath. I find it helps a little. I find that having a bleach bath once a week helps.”

If you’d like to try a bleach bath, there are some things you should know first. Here’s the information you need about bleach baths and hidradenitis suppurativa (also called acne inversa).

What Is a Bleach Bath?

Preparing a bleach bath entails mixing a tiny amount of household bleach with bathwater. One myHSteam member explained that they put “a small amount of bleach in a full tub bath; it helps with bacteria that causes the smell.”

While the part about fixing the smell isn’t proven, bleach baths can kill bacteria on your skin, which may prevent wound infections in hidradenitis suppurativa. A bleach bath may also help lower inflammation associated with hidradenitis suppurativa, though researchers aren’t sure about that yet.

The bleach in one of these baths is extremely diluted. In addition, you don’t stay in it for longer than 10 minutes. This helps you get the benefits of a bleach bath without the risk of hurting your skin.

Bleach baths are generally safe, though you should talk to your doctor before you take one. Avoid them if you:

• Have sensitive skin
• Have been diagnosed with asthma
• Have certain types of eczema in addition to hidradenitis suppurativa
• Use medications or other treatment options that may make your skin fragile or thin

Are Bleach Baths Effective for Treating Hidradenitis Suppurativa?

The research available on bleach baths and hidradenitis suppurativa is minimal. Still, it’s one of the most common home remedies used by people with HS to relieve symptoms. At least 50 percent of dermatologists recommend these baths to people experiencing hidradenitis suppurativa flare-ups. This makes it the second most common at-home recommendation, after warm compresses, but above other topical and over-the-counter options.

This may or may not mean that bleach baths work when it comes to hidradenitis suppurativa. Dermatologists may recommend these baths because they think they work or because they work for a few people. However, the fact that bleach baths are highly recommended may also mean that these dermatology experts hear from many people that they help improve hidradenitis suppurativa symptoms.

Some experts doubt that bleach baths could help with hidradenitis suppurativa. They say that the bacteria in HS skin infections is so deep in the skin that the bleach wouldn't reach it, no matter how powerfully antimicrobial it is. Again, there’s no research to either confirm or deny this.

Bleach baths are effective at killing bacteria on the skin. If that can be shown to prevent that bacteria from getting into HS wounds, then bleach baths might be effective. Bleach baths also seem to lower skin inflammation in other ways. It remains to be seen if these affect hidradenitis suppurativa or not.

When Should You Use a Bleach Bath?

During a hidradenitis suppurativa flare-up, you may develop bumps under the skin that may spread or become infected. Treating flares effectively can help you maintain a high quality of life, and to do that, some people may turn to bleach baths. But it’s important to take precautions before you take a soak.

If you want to take a bleach bath, consult with your health care provider first. Make sure they consider your whole health history before giving you the go-ahead. If you have asthma or any other conditions discussed above, you may need to choose another way to treat hidradenitis suppurativa at home.

If your doctor says it’s OK, they should give you directions for taking a bleach bath. While some tips are provided below, you should always do what your doctor says. For instance, your doctor may have reasons to limit the amount of bleach you use or the time you spend in the tub beyond what you see here. This will likely be based on your health history.

Your doctor should also tell you what signs of irritation to look for and what to do if you experience them. If your skin isn’t tolerating the bleach bath, get out right away and follow your doctor’s instructions for such situations.

If you have very dry skin, make sure to mention this to your doctor. Bleach baths can be particularly uncomfortable if your skin is dry. You may need to moisturize your skin for a while before you can benefit from a bleach bath. Your doctor can help you decide whether trying the bath is worth it or if you should take other steps to ease your HS symptoms, at least for now.

How To Take a Bleach Bath

When you take a bleach bath for hidradenitis suppurativa, you’ll want to use regular household bleach at 5 percent strength.

First, fill your bathtub with lukewarm water. It shouldn’t be so cold you can’t tolerate it, but you don’t want it overly hot, either. You’ll want about 40 gallons of water. If you’re not sure how much your tub holds, you can take the time to measure it if you want to. Most standard bathtubs hold roughly 40 gallons, though.

Next, add between one-quarter and one-half cups of bleach to the water and mix it in well. You may want to start with less bleach to see if it's effective and to avoid irritation. If it doesn’t work as well as you’d hope, you can try more next time.

Once your bath is ready, try to soak only the parts of your body affected by hidradenitis suppurativa. This can be difficult if you have lesions on your armpits or abscesses in hair follicles around your groin. You may have to simply get into the tub and sit there.

Doctors generally recommend that a person limits their time in a bleach bath to 10 minutes and takes not more than two per week. If your dermatologist gives you different guidance, however, follow that instead.

Never put your head under the water in a bleach bath. This protects your eyes and the sensitive mucus membranes inside your nose and mouth. If you get bleach in your eyes, flush them immediately and contact your doctor to see what else you need to do.

When you’re done with your bleach bath, rinse off right away. Use fresh water and a gentle soap, if you want to make sure it’s all off. Moisturize your skin afterward, as bleach can be drying, and you don’t want to take too much moisture out. Keep an eye out for signs of irritation until you’re sure your body tolerates the bleach bath well.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myHSteam, the social network for people with hidradenitis suppurativa, and their loved ones, more than 41,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Have you tried a bleach bath for hidradenitis suppurativa, or are you considering it? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.