Top Benefits & Uses of Baking Soda Bath

Sodium bicarbonate or Baking Soda is an inexpensive, versatile ingredient that can be used for baking, cleaning, cooking, and also as home remedies. One of the amazing health benefits of baking soda is its ability to treat skin infections. Adding baking soda in the bath will detox your body and provide good relief from irritation, itching, and infection.

Taking a warm bubble bath is not the right way to keep your body relaxed and healthy on a stressful day. Adding essential oil, baking soda in the bath will give you a spa-like experience. Baking soda bath is completely different from Epsom salt bath; both are used to treat various conditions.

Baking soda bath is commonly used for skincare; it is used to treat UTI, diaper rash, eczema, sunburn, yeast infection, skin itching, and psoriasis. But Epsom salt bath is used to treat some health issues like blood pressure, circulatory health, and nerve function. Some people take a bath with the combination of Epsom salt and baking soda.

What Is Baking Soda Bath?

Baking soda is a combination of bicarbonate ions and sodium ions, which is commonly used for cleaning and oral hygiene. Adding baking soda to water while bathing will help to remove odors, bacterias, and acidity from the body; it also helps to maintain the skin healthy.

Using herbs and other ingredients like Epsom salt with baking soda in the bathwater will help to make your body more relaxing. You can also take a bath without using baking soda in the water, just like a warm bath.

A warm bath has excellent therapeutic properties, which warms up your body muscles and helps to get relaxed after a long stressful day. A warm bath will promote sweating and release toxins from the skin holes.

How to Use Baking Soda in the Bath?

Drink plenty of water before going to a baking soda bath. Creating a relaxing atmosphere with soft light, soothing music, and candles will help you to relax while bathing. Shed the dead cells before going to bath using a loofah, dry scrub, or body brush.

For a Bath:

--> Add 1/4 to 2 cups of baking soda in warm bathwater. The quantity of baking soda is based on your wish.
--> Stir it around to ensure that baking soda is completely dissolved.
--> Soak your body into the water from 10 to 40 mins.

After taking a baking soda bath, it is recommended to rinse your body with fresh water. It will help to get rid of residue and toxins from the body. Water you use to rinse after a baking soda bath should be comfortably warm, not too hot. Warm water will help you to prevent fainting, burning, and lightheaded feeling. 

At the same time, using hot water will remove the moisture from the skin. Lukewarm water will help to absorb moisture. If you feel water is too warm, add some cool water until it has an ideal temperature.

Tips for Before and After Bath:

--> Create a relaxing environment.
--> Use warm or lukewarm water for a baking soda bath.
--> Use warm water and mild soap to rinse the toxins from the skin.
--> Use a dry towel to wipe off the skin.
--> Use lotion or natural oil for moisturizing the skin.
--> Wear some clean cloth after a bath to avoid environmental toxins.
--> Drink water after a baking soda bath

BENEFITS OF BAKING SODA BATH

Soothe Eczema

Eczema is a common skin infection. People who have eczema can feel itchy, dry, and inflamed patches on the skin. It will affect old, young, and even children as they scratch their skin uncontrollably, and this causes inflammation. Eczema is caused by the skin barrier’s damage. The treatment that gives moisture to the skin will help prevent eczema.

Studies prove that baking soda baths will help to reduce infection or prevent eczema flare-ups. Adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda in warm water and soaking your body into it for 10 to 15 mins will give you relief from itching and also soothes your skin. It is important to rub the skin immediately to dry and moisturize the skin after the bath.

Don’t scrub your skin with a towel to dry; it may irritate your skin. Gently pat your skin using a towel to dry.

Yeast Infection

Most people could have experienced yeast infection, which is caused by the candida fungus. The symptoms of yeast infection are swelling, itching, and burning. If you did not take any treatment for yeast infection, it leads to blood poisoning.
Studies say that baking soda baths will help to get relief from the symptoms of yeast infection. One study proves that baking soda kills candida cells, which are the fungal cells that cause yeast infection.

Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda in warm water, soak your body in water until the water turns cold. This helps to treat yeast infection. Wear cotton cloth after taking a baking soda bath and try to add yogurt in your daily diet.

Fungal Skin and Nail Infection

Some researchers say that baking soda acts as an antifungal agent that effectively fights against many fungal strains that commonly cause nail and skin infections. The nail fungus, onychomycosis causes discolored, thick, and crumbling nails. Regularly soaking the feet and hands in baking soda water will provide better relief from these infections. Anyhow, you should consult your doctor before using a baking soda bath to get relief from the symptoms of fungal infection.

Psoriasis

It is also called eczema. Medication bath is one of the best ways to treat psoriasis. Research in 2005 proves that baking soda bath helps to reduce psoriasis symptoms and inflammations. Adding 1/2 cup of baking soda in an oatmeal bath will reduce itchiness and skin irritation. People with psoriasis should hydrate their skin immediately after taking a baking soda bath. Dry your skin with a soft towel or use hot water to dry the skin.

Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is a common problem for babies who have raw skin. Diaper is a perfect place for germs to multiply because of the warm and damp conditions of the diaper. It will cause diaper rashes in the babies. Infants may get irritated because of the constant friction of diapers. If your baby was infected by a diaper rash, you can use a pure cotton cloth diaper until the inflammation subsides.

Soaking the affected area in a baking soda bath, three times a day also effectively treats diaper rash. Soak your baby’s body for about 10 minutes each time; it will gently remove the irritating germs. It also helps to soothe their skin and promotes fast healing. Don’t apply baking soda directly to the skin; it may cause skin irritation. Mix 1-2 tsp of baking soda in warm water and soak the affected area for 10 minutes. 

This gives a better relief from diaper rash. Don’t use too much baking soda because the baby’s skin absorbs easily and so it can enter into the skin. This causes alkalosis. Try to use some homemade vaseline instead of chemical-laden creams after taking a baking soda bath, that is good for the baby’s skin.

Good For Sunburn

Sunburn is a common problem during summer. Especially people with light skin have the highest chance of getting sunburn. Mostly, children get sunburn during their summer holidays. It causes redness in the skin; based on the severity, it will turn light reddish to dark red, accompanied by the burning sensation. Severe sunburn is more painful, and it causes fever. A baking soda bath is a good remedy for sunburn. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and herbs like lavender or chamomile in the tepid water and soak your body into it for 10 to 15 minutes. It will soothe your inflamed skin.

Stop Poison Oak, Poison Ivy, or Sumac:

If you accidentally touch some poison oak or poison ivy leaves, a baking soda bath is an excellent natural remedy. Usually, we used to take a bath after touching any poisonous plants. Taking a bath is a great idea to prevent the skin from certain diseases. It protects your skin from absorbing the oil content of the plant, which causes rashes on the skin. Bathing also avoids the oil spreading from one place to another in the body or to another person. 

Take 1/2 cup of baking soda and dissolve it in warm water and soak your body in it for 30 minutes. This helps to reduce those symptoms. A baking soda bath also helps to soothe inflamed skin and reduce itching and irritation. Adding oatmeal in the bath also eases itching.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes itching and skin irritation, sometimes it may become a torture for people, especially children. So, it is important to consult your doctor immediately. You can also use some home remedies to treat this irritation, itching, and inflammations of chickenpox.

Baking soda acts as an antiviral agent, which provides better relief from chickenpox symptoms. Add 1-2 cups of baking soda in warm or lukewarm water and soak your body into it for 20 mins. Taking a baking soda bath three times per day will provide better relief from chickenpox. Adding some other herbs like chamomile or oatmeal also helps to reduce the symptoms more effectively.

Urinary Tract Infection

UTI causes burning and pain during urination. This is mainly caused due to the extra acidity in the urinary tract. A baking soda bath will help to reduce pain and discomfort while passing urine. A person suffering from urinary tract infection can have a baking soda bath everyday. Add 1/4 cup of baking soda in warm water and soak your body for 15 to 30 minutes. Doing this process twice a day helps to get relieved from painful urination.

Vulva Irritation

For some women experiencing itching and irritation around the vulva, baking soda bath is the best remedy. Soaking your body in the baking soda bath helps to get a better relief from vulva burning and itching. Adding 1/4 cup of baking soda in warm water and soaking for 15-20 minutes, three times per day will greatly help to get relief from vulva irritation in women.

Reduce Hives

The skin erupts into small bumps because of allergies, and it is commonly called hives. The skin may get burns, itches, stings, red. Baking soda is a natural antiseptic that is commonly used as a home remedy to soothe hives. Adding 1/2 cup of baking soda and immersing your body into that water for 10 to 15 minutes will help to soothe itchiness, burns, and red in the skin. You can also add some fresh neem leaves into bathwater. Neem leaf has the ability to treat all kinds of infections. So, adding neem leaves in bath water will make it more effective to treat hives.

Constipation

Hemorrhoids are caused when people feel pain while passing stools. A baking soda bath will help to get relief from pain and ease inflammation caused by hemorrhoids or constipation. Add 2 ounces of baking soda in water and soak yourself for 20 minutes. This will relax your anal sphincter and improve bowel movement. Baking soda bath also helps the baby from constipation, which relaxes the rectal muscles and helps to pass stool without any pain.

Eliminate Odor

When you are sick or in the detoxification process, your body goes overwhelming, and your body can’t be able to get rid of the lingering smell that comes out from the pores. Baking soda has natural odor-fighting properties that can reduce the strange smell from the refrigerator and keeps laundry smelling fresh. After a long stressful day, a baking soda bath will help eliminate bad odor from the body and make you feel fresh and clean without using any perfumes.

Detoxify Your Body

If you feel dozy due to the weather or of any other reason, then just take a detox bath. Baking soda is an excellent remedy for cleaning and detoxifying your body. A baking soda bath will boost your immune system and remove toxin build-up from the body. Mix 1/2 cup of Epsom salt and baking soda in warm water and immerse your body for 30 minutes in that water to promote detoxification in the body. People can also add some essential oil or medicinal herbs to the bath.

Baking Soda Bath Consideration

Baking soda bath is safe and well-tolerated by many people. The skin absorbs dissolved baking soda and gives you relief. But some people should avoid baking soda bath for certain reasons;

--> People have an open wound or any serious infection
--> People have high blood pressure
--> Pregnant or breastfeeding women
--> Diabetes patient
--> If you’re prone to fainting
--> People have allergies with baking soda
--> People using any alcohol or drugs.

It is better to do a skin patch test before using baking soda for the skin. Apply baking soda paste to your inner arms, rinse it, and before taking bath, wait for 24 hours to find out the reaction. If you are taking a baking soda bath for detoxification, you can add some essential oil after doing the skin patch test.

Other Types Of Detox Bath

People use a lot of natural ingredients to take detox baths.
--> Epsom salt
--> Sea salt
--> Hydrogen peroxide
--> Apple cider vinegar
--> Clay
You can add baking soda along with a salt bath to support the effects, but you should use it after discussing it with your healthcare professional.

Bottom Line

It is better to consult your doctor before starting any new treatment. Doctors may monitor how your skin reacts to baking soda and suggest some safety tips. Doctors may also suggest some alternative treatments based on your skin health. If you feel any symptoms while taking a baking soda bath, don’t continue it