Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide for Eczema?

[mkawa2k3]

After searching the forum I've noticed that Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar are good for drying up blisters (pustules?) caused by dyshidrotic eczema.

Can anyone give me anymore info on exactly how to apply these, e.g. ratio to water? Also how often should I use them and for how long should I bathe my hands? Where  can I buy Hydrogen Peroxide in the UK? What types of vinegar can I use - I'm finding Apple Cider Vinegar really hard to track down in UK stores.

And one more thing - why is it so important to moisturize skin that is bursting (literally!!) with fluid?!?

Thanks for all your help!

[timnray03]

 :)Hi we use HP 3% to treat HS with good resultes. HP 3% is a very good antibacteral. We have never tried Vinegar with HP 3% but Vinegar is something that surely can`t be harmful or at least in small amounts? Take Care, Ray

[Celery Peach]

  Hi Andy

I would just like to throw Manuka Honey into the think pot here too. It is a natural form of Hydrogen Peroxide. Lots of good info here :

http://www.manukahoney.co.uk/therapeuticuses.html

Please do take the time to read the site, its not a quack remedy I promise you. It has been scientifically studied and also advocated by many reputable organisations.

Some more interesting reading about it here :

http://bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/special.shtml

I used it on my HS lumps, particularly a stubborn one that wouldnt heal. Its sticky and awkward to use, but how about coating your hands in it before bed and putting a pair of gloves over (or two pair). I have found that it leaves the skin really soft too, so no need for extra moisturiser. 

[spiky]

  Hi mkawa2k3, Welcome to Skincell!

You can buy Hydrogen Peroxide at most chemists in the UK. I think you have to ask at the counter for it. There are several different brands of Apple Cider Vinegar for sale at Holland and Barrett - I've not checked GNC. Take care how you use them - check out the other threads in 'Helpful Remedies' here on Skincell. I don't know how you'd use Hydrogen Peroxide for eczema, but I've seen quite a few posts about diluting Apple Cider Venegar and dipping your hands in for relief - but I don't suffer from eczema, so you must check out how much to dilute it with water before you try it, please - it's strong stuff. Good stuff - just strong! The 'own brand' of ACV sold at Holland and Barrett is pretty cheap too - so if the dilution gives you some relief, then it'd be good value to get some relief.

I don't know why moisturising helps - but I've read it here several times. Hopefully someone here who has dishydrotic eczema will be along to explain.

Celery Peach does a lot of careful research and her thoughts are always well-informed. Geesh, she's convinced me on the manuka honey - I'm preparing to risk the heat today to do some manuka shopping! ( CP -  ) I have HS, so I can't advise you specifically on eczema, but please be careful with whatever you try, as your poor hands sound very sore! Hope something helps for you soon 

[timnray03]

Hi mkawa2k3,   honey is very tempura sensitive, when its warm, it flows easy and being less stiff, stiff, for the lack of a better word, will allow it to reach into the places that need treatment. Sometimes I think thats why people don`t get the full benifit of honey in treatment has it does`nt reach everwhere thats needed. Warmth and keeping it warm may be the key to helping you in its use. Good luck and best wishes, Ray    PS, also nice about honey when its warm, is the aroma .

[jgoodburn]

Hi there, as an eczema sufferer, I have found Hydrogen Peroxide to help quite a bit.  After the initial sting, the swelling and itchiness go down considerably.

One thing I will add about cider vinegar or honey treatments, is that you should ensure that there is no fungal infection present, or it will feed it.  This will make your condition far far worse.

A fungal infection (usually tinea aka athlete's foot) is easy to catch when you have eczema, as it gets in through the open wound.  A fungal infection will mimic the symptoms of eczema, or will trigger eczema.

If you are using cortisone cream(s), the immune system will be suppressed in that area, allowing the fungus to take even deeper roote.  Be very careful about this.   If your "eczema" suddenly grows out of control under cortisone treatments, it might be a fungus.

My doctor ignored me when I was telling him that I was getting a response from the eczema when I would give it a soak in Hydrogen Peroxide, or a very light concentration of bleach.  It wasn't until I saw another doctor that he recognized it as fungus immediately, and took a skin scraping.  It came back positive.

One other thing if it is a fungus, is it could be an indication that there is an underlying problem, such as diabetes.  Again, the excess blood sugar feeds the fungus.  Wounds, regardless of whether they are caused by fungus or eczema are notoriously hard to heal in diabetics.  Again, I now know this from personal experience.

Good luck.

[greaser]

Hi Jgoodburn
I realise you posted this some time ago but I just came across the thead when I was searching the web for pompholyx/dyshidrotic treatments for a friend.  I am also a sufferer but am currently in 'remission' although I am continuing with what I call my eczema regime.  I also suffer from atopic and discoid eczema but it is the pompholyx that causes me the most grief.  I get it on my hands and the soles of my feet sometimes to the point where I can't walk.  Since using Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) I have been able to get it under control and now I use a combination of surgical spirit (to toughen the skin on the palms of my hand and the soles of my feet, from Boots) and H2O2.  I use the 6% strength H2O2 and buy it from independent pharmacies in London (Boots do not stock it).  I then use cotton makeup remover pad from Boots and swab my feet and hands morning and night.  I use the surgical spirit when I get home from work or after a gym workout.  My feet, during a flare are a lot worse than my hands, so I tend to concentrate a little bit more on them.  My theory is that the skin on my soles is too thin due to excessive steroid use so I'm susceptible to the bacteria from my sweat which then causes my immune system to react and produce the characteristic pompholyx blister/bubbles.  Or something like that.  I have loads of theories...  It's strange but my pompholyx began to flare directly after my first dose of prednisone back in 2002.  I also used cider vinegar a couple of years ago - I can still remember the pain - if you don't dilute it enough with water it really, REALLY stings.  It did seem to help, though not as quickly as the H2O2.  I have no idea about side effects.  I have been using H2O2 for 2 years now - daily.  I have some flare ups - in summer, if I wear nylon stockings, if I wash with soap etc.  Anyway good luck and let me know if you have any further questions.

[anthropositor]

I have recently suggested to an acne sufferer the use of a mild vinegar solution as a final rinse after cleansing his face.  A capful in a mug of water.  In response to his question about using an antibiotic cream on a bleeding blemish, I thought a dab of 3% H2O2 on the sore prior to the vinegar and water rinse would be sufficient.  I have never deliberately mixed the two.  I do not foresee any reaction.  I would still be inclined to use them separately.

I see no particular reason to use 6% H2O2 any more than I see a reason to use straight 5% vinegar, and the cheapest white vinegar will certainly do the job.  The vinegar and water final rinse is just to leave the skin in a slightly acidified state to retard the regrowth of bacteria for a time.  Much better to re-apply a milder solution more frequently than a strong solution once.

In General Health, the thread Biting the Dentist deals with the use of 3% H2O2 antibacterially for a seriously infected tooth.  Only a Q-tip worth does the job.  Dentists who advise people to slosh a mouthful around err.  Don't use a sledgehammer to swat a fly.

[poochie]

for my excema if i put vinigar on my skin you probrably would hear me scream from the burning, as my skin is so  sensitive.

[anthropositor]

Hi Poochie,

Perhaps I wasn't sufficiently clear.  When I say a "mild vinegar solution" I mean to put a teaspoon or two of vinegar in a cupful of water and apply this quite dilute solution.  This should not cause excessive discomfort even if it gets on a break in the skin.  Of course, my pain tolerance is considerable.  If it turns out that it burns just rinse it off.

[anthropositor]

Hello Sweetwind,
There is a certain amount of ambiguity in your post which the underlining and bold copy didn't clear up.  I can't tell if your first line refers to the title of the thread, or something I or someone else has said.

Sometimes I get the sense that some people dabble with their skin without having a clear idea of what they are trying to accomplish and how what they are doing might fit the task at hand.  Such "treatments" are haphazard and can ultimately do considerable harm.

I have reviewed posts 7 and 9.  I do not find anything that requires modification in my opinion.  That is, I stand by what I say.  I generally think carefully about each post I write. 

The reason I do so is that I understand the potential for harm if I do not state things clearly or do not use good logic in my reasoning.

Dabbling can be seriously harmful to the skin.  The less informed the dabbling, the greater the potential harm.  It is a good general rule that if you do not know what you are doing with any certainty, then certainly doing less is better.