Between the itching and the dry, peeling skin, eczema can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. While prescription creams and remedies work for some patients, they're not effective for everyone. If you've tried an array of conventional eczema treatments but are still suffering from rashes and dry skin, here's a look at a few less conventional treatments you may want to try.

Bleach Baths

Taking a bath in bleach water may sound dangerous – and it can be if you're not careful. However, if you're careful to dilute the bleach properly, it's not much different than swimming in a chlorinated pool, and it's very good for your eczema. Experts recommend adding ½ cup of standard, household bleach to a 40-gallon bathtub full of warm water. Mix the bleach into the bath to ensure it's distributed evenly, and then climb in. Soak for 10 minutes – no longer – and then rinse yourself off with plain water. Apply a good quality moisturizer to your skin afterwards. Taking bleach baths up to three times per week can help kill the bacteria that are often involved in eczema breakouts, leading to calmer skin and fewer flare-ups.

Phototherapy

Phototherapy is essentially the use of light for therapeutic reasons. Exposing your skin to UVB light in particular may help reduce itching, alleviate inflammation, and fight the bacteria involved in eczema breakouts. It would be nice if you could just go sit in the sun, and in fact, sunlight may help clear your eczema breakouts. However, since sunlight also exposes you to unhealthy UVA light that increases your risk of skin cancer, it's smarter to undergo phototherapy at an actual treatment center. Special UVB lights will be directed at the affected areas of your skin. The process is much like visiting a tanning salon; it's painless and even enjoyable. Usually, 2 to 3 treatments a week for a month or two are required before you see a notable effect.

Vaporizer

Soothing your eczema could be as simple as adding some moisture to your air. Invest in a water vaporizer from your local pharmacy, and use it each night as you sleep. It will add moisture to the air, which will help calm your skin and prevent itchy rashes. If you want to go the extra mile, you can add a drop or two of eucalyptus oil to the vaporizer. This may help reduce your stress levels, which can help further prevent eczema breakouts since many tend to be stress-related.

If your eczema is not responding to typical treatments, talk to a dermatologist, like one at Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center PS, about these and other less conventional treatments that may work better for your unique case.