Potassium Permanganate Solution (to relieve Eczema)

[AEC]

I am currently experiencing a bad eczema attack on my neck and my face. I have recently bought some potassium permanganate crystals (powdered form) as I have been told that a solution of this mixture can help 'relieve' the eczema for the time being.

Anyone (preferably the experienced) have any idea how much of the powdered crystals I should put into a bucket of water? I intend to either:-
1) wash myself with it
2) take a tower, soak it and apply on the affected areas for maybe a couple of minutes

Is this advisable? Are there any other preferred method? Please keep in mind that my affected Eczema areas are my face and my neck .

[Uncle Matt]

Hi AEC,

The only time I've seen potassium permanganate used is when I used it on my feet. I dissolved some crystals in some water in a washing up bowl, and then sat with my feet in the bowl for 20 minutes at a time.

I was told it was primarily to prevent secondary infections, and to help dry the skin out, which it did quite well.

I'm not sure I would use it on my face, not only because the application would be a bit difficult, but because it will eventually stain the skin a yellow/brown colour.

[skinurghs]

Hi AEC - I suffer from eczema all over the body, around the neck, cheek, eyes and a patch on the forehead. Have been able to get it better under control by:
1. Using table salt to wash with (stings like hell if I've been scratching)
2. Drinking lots of water
3. Sleeping more regularly and if I can't sleep due to scratching I knock myself out with an antihistamine.
4. Moisturise like crazy - however I use a mixture of creams that make my skin soft - this has been by experimenting - and then slapping a load of grease (emollients) on top.

I now have dry skin everywhere, but not as severe as when it was in the eczema stage.

Have noticed that lack of sleep definitely helps start the itch as well as bad eating! Dehydration makes my neck and cheeks itchy. Lack of sleep makes the skin around my eyes itchy.

Anyway just lots of observations might help you and others.

[AEC]

How bad is the stain? I remember using it when I was young but I don't recall having a really bad stain. Maybe I was too young to notice my appearance...

skinurghs, thanks for your tips. I have not been drinking lots of water lately and have been lacking sleep. It has definitely helped aggravate my Eczema, but I believe the massive outbreak I am having now is due to a trigger. I am currently trying to pinpoint the trigger, but your tips have definitely helped reminding me what I should be doing.

May I ask what do you mean by using table salt to wash? Do you mean washing the affected Eczema areas with water diluted with table salt? If so, how many teaspoons do you use? Advisable doing after your shower?


As for the original question, my mother recommends I find a big enough tub for me to soak myself in. Unfortunately, I am not 5 years old anymore so I need to find for a huge tub. I'm not willing to stain the big 'proper' tubs I have, so I guess that method is out of the question :S.

[skinurghs]

I force myself to drink at least 2 litres of water. If I have had bad sleep, the eczema creeps under my eyes and cheeks and then suddenly due to me aggrevating the condition - it becomes itchy and weepy! Mood goes down when it is like that and can excaberate the condition further.

I dampen my face and put wet salt onto the skin. My skin seems dry despite putting on loads of moisturiser and so I think that by exfoliating with salt helps and seems to. Plus it is a natural antiseptic when my skin is bad (note it does sting). Here's what I found for you: http://dermnetnz.org/treatments/permanganate.html

[anthropositor]

I used prescribed Potassium Permanganate on an infected foot injury about half a century ago, along with another several prescribed and variously harsh desiccants and antibiotic creams.  Collectively, they made matters worse, or at least the condition continued to deteriorate rapidly.  I very nearly lost some toes before firing the experts.  I discontinued all products, and after a suitable rest period, replaced them with a couple of soaks a day in   what was called Burrow's Solution, probably the gentlest of the desiccants.  (5% aluminum acetate) in a basin of tepid water water.  Get some advice from your chemist or pharmacist on the dilution, but err on the mild side. 

I am not an eczema sufferer.  I was treating a wound infection of unknown etiology.  I do not even know if Burrow's Solution is currently available.  But I will say that of all the things I was doing, I found Potassium Permanganate the most alarming.  I used tablets in a basin of water.  They left a purple stain of considerable duration.  I would strongly caution you not to put it on your face and neck in any dilution.

Burrow's Solution, on the other hand, seemed the gentlest of the drying agents, leaving no stain whatsoever.  Be exceedingly careful with all drying chemicals.  They do not seem logical to me for a condition like eczema.

If I were in the position of an eczema sufferer, I would discontinue everything (such as moisturizer and other such emollients, particularly if you have been using them extravagantly and without supervision, for at least a week.  Now you have something of a base-line starting point.  You might just find that what you have already been doing was a big part of the problem.  I have found previously, that this is not always popular advice.  Good luck.