How to Use Chlorine to Treat Skin Infections

When I was 18, I had my belly button pierced. It was summer, and between the sweltering heat, which kept me sweating constantly, and my sensitive skin, I soon had a raging infection. Determined to keep the piercing, I left it in for two months and suffered tremendously. One day, I went swimming, and noticed the next day that some of the swelling and redness had gone away. I figured it must have been the chlorine and quickly decided to repeat the treatment at home. It healed, and the piercing stayed in for another year and a half, until I got bored with it. Since then, I've used chlorine to treat fungal infections on my feet, a boil, and a yucky open wound that just wouldn't heal on it's own, despite antibiotics.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Bathtub
• Chlorine bleach

1. Fill the bathtub with the hottest water you can stand. Add 3-6 capfuls of chlorine bleach. Note that I said CAPFULS... not CUPFULS. Bleach is very, very strong stuff and can irritate your skin badly if you use too much. The bath should smell like a swimming pool, and the water should just feel like water. If it's slippery, you've added too much bleach. Drain some of the mixture out and add more hot water.
2. If you have a fungal infection, like ringworm, no further prep is necessary. Just hop in. If the wound is closed off, like a boil, or scabby, you'll need to open it to allow the pus to escape and let the disinfectant in. If it's a boil with a white head, use a sterile needle to prick it and allow the pus out (if there's no white head, apply warm compresses instead. Lancing it at this point won't do any good.) If there's a scab, soak a washcloth in hot water. Apply as a compress until the scab softens, then scrub it gently away. Push out as much of the pus as you can by gently applying pressure.
3. Soak the affected area in the hot, chlorinated water as long as possible. If you're treating an infected piercing, wiggling the hoop or stud back and forth will push out pus and allow the bleachy water to get into the wound. Clean the affected area thoroughly, making sure no infectious matter remains. Remove any dead skin by rubbing gently.
4. Drain the water from the tub, but don't get out. Instead, turn on the shower and rinse off. This is very important! It will prevent green hair and dry skin.
5. Dry off. Pay special attention to the infected area. You can apply an antibiotic cream now, if you desire, to keep the area moist and prevent scabbing.
6. Repeat every other day until the redness, swelling and/or infection are completely gone and the area is starting to heal.

Tips & Warnings

• Unscented bleach works best.
• Use lotion after drying off- it will prevent your skin from becoming too dry and irritated.
• Do not try to treat lesions on the face, genitals, or anus with chlorine- see a doctor instead.
• Do not attempt this if you have ever experienced adverse reactions to chlorine.
• Many skin conditions are contagious! Don't share towels, and if you're treating a skin infection, wash your towel and washcloth after each use in hot water to avoid re-introducing bacteria or fungi.
• This is a good home remedy, and it works in a pinch, but your doctor probably won't approve of it!