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Original poster

Excema and salt water

31 replies

GooseyLoosey · 10/04/2007 16:35

Ds has quite bad excema on his legs. Took him to the beach at the weekend and he paddled in the water. Excema has dried out and scabbed over. Mother and dh both say that we should try putting him in salt water baths to see if this works and mother and grandmother swear that salt water is a well known cure for such things.

I would prefer almost anything to steroid and antibiotic creams but somehow I'm not keen on this as it seems to me that it must hurt (rubbing salt in wounds and all that).

Does anyone have any ideas whether this will work or not?

OP posts:
PinkChick · 10/04/2007 16:38

no idea but am intersted to hear as dp has bad psoriasis and may also help him..yoou can buy sea salt cant you???.or can you just bung some saxo in the tub

doddle · 10/04/2007 16:42

We put handfuls of Maldon salt into the bath when DS2's eczema is looking irritated. We still use his emollients, but the salt water definitely seems to help. His eczema gets much better at the seaside too.

Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 10/04/2007 16:43

I hadn't thought that far ahead PinkChick - I suppose I could just chuck the Saxo in - no idea really, and no idea how much you would use, a teaspoon, half a pack?

At least it would syop dd drinking the bath water once and for all!

OP posts:
Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 10/04/2007 16:44

Thanks doddle - handfuls you say? Do you use ordinary salt (sorry if this sounds daft!)?

OP posts:
doddle · 10/04/2007 16:48

We put about a handful (or 2 if his eczema is very red) into the bath. We use the boxes of Maldon or Tidmans salt that we get at Holland and Barrett. this

Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 10/04/2007 16:50

Great, thanks doddle, will try that.

OP posts:
PinkChick · 10/04/2007 18:20

..btw..i said saxo..thats a car..just looked in cupboard.its saxa..heres Pink|Chick throwing neighbours car in bath to help dp's psoriasis

cece · 10/04/2007 18:26

When I was a child mine would always clear up loads after 2 week beach holiday so I am guessing it was the sea water. I remember it stinging initially but not all the time.

Chandra · 10/04/2007 18:27

Some of us would do ANYTHING to sort skin problems, even if that get us into problems with the neighbours

But agree, sea water can relieve bad flares very quick.

KerryMum · 10/04/2007 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tutu100 · 10/04/2007 18:44

I use tidman's salt crystals in the bath and find them excellent. My skin feels so sensitive that even plain water stings and burns but with the salt added I don't have any soreness.

SweetyDarling · 10/04/2007 19:20

It's great for my sister's excema and terrible for my brother in law's - horses for courses.

Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 10/04/2007 19:38

Thanks all - will deffinately give it ago, although as it seems to make some people's worse will have to watch it closely!

OP posts:
phdlife · 10/04/2007 19:52

I'm going to try it tonight, as I've got bad eczema all over my bump (never had it before in my life) and last night saw total meltdown at 3am . Glad to have found this tip - cross fingers for me please!!

Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 10/04/2007 20:19

Let me know if it works phdlife.

OP posts:
olivo · 10/04/2007 20:48

i know that sea water is recommended for psoriasis so i would guess that it'd work for eczema.
good luck phdlife!

Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 11/04/2007 07:57

Did you do it phdlife - did it work?

OP posts:
phdlife · 11/04/2007 09:28

It bloody STUNG - (DH: "maybe that means it's working?") - left it for a bit then had to wash off. tried again this morning. figure even if it hurts a little, maybe it will help? but if it doesn't start looking better pronto, will stop, because OW!!!

Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 11/04/2007 10:47

Ouch - that was my fear too. Hope its not too bad!

OP posts:
phdlife · 11/04/2007 11:10

well - when I decided it was stinging too much, had to rinse it off, stupid electric shower shot up to HOT and burned hell out of me! But then cold water and cold aqueous cream, it's all ok.

someone else said oatmeal in the bath so maybe that'll be tomorrow's remedy.

good luck!

cathcart · 11/04/2007 11:14

i used 'dead sea magic' bath salt and was excellent, but do not use if skin is cracked!!!!! it will hurt a lot!

phdlife · 11/04/2007 11:19

hi cath!

skin doesn't look cracked, just sort of blistery.

actually lesions look a bit better today - smoother, no peeling. but salt still hurt bad!

cathcart · 11/04/2007 11:23

hi ph!! sorry it hurt so! if it looks a bit better perhaps you could try again in a few days using a bit less salt?

Original poster
GooseyLoosey · 11/04/2007 11:56

Feel slightly responsible for your pain phd (sorry!)and think I will wait until ds's scabs have gone as could not bear the howling I think would result (he is not what you would call stoical in the face of pain!)

OP posts:
phdlife · 11/04/2007 13:04

me either, goosey

not to worry, I'd have tried dried monkey tails if someone said it'd stop the itching.

oatmeal's next!