Baking soda baths have a variety of benefits, including as a skin detox and to relieve itching and irritation from eczema, yeast infections, UTIs, and more. Baking soda is a mixture of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions, and it dissolves fully in water. The skin can absorb dissolved baking soda, including during a baking soda bath. Here are some of the positive and negative effects of taking a baking soda bath:
Positive effects:
- Relieve itching and irritation from eczema, yeast infections, UTIs, diaper rash, damaged skin due to surgery, hemorrhoids, and other factors.
- Soothe and relieve yeast infection symptoms such as itching, burning, and swelling.
- Neutralize the acid in urine, remove germs, and aid in healing, which may relieve painful urination.
- Soothe vulvar itching and burning.
- Relieve rectal pain caused by constipation and hemorrhoids.
- Support natural detoxification system while helping the body relax.
- Absorb odors, which helps when the body undergoes detox and releases unpleasant odors from the pores.
Negative effects:
- Consuming too much baking soda can raise levels of both sodium and bicarbonate, which can lead to excessive gas in the stomach, nausea and vomiting, seizures, dehydration, kidney failure, and breathing difficulty.
- Baking soda changes the pH of body fluids, and in large amounts, it can be dangerous for people who suffer from high blood pressure, have open or infected wounds, have diabetes, or are allergic to baking soda.
- People with heart failure, liver disease, or other conditions associated with fluid build-up should use sodium bicarbonate with caution.
- Taking sodium bicarbonate might increase the risk of complications such as milk-alkali syndrome.
- Sodium bicarbonate can decrease potassium levels in the body, and taking it along with "water pills" might decrease potassium too much.
It is important to note that baking soda baths are typically safe,...
