Don't try this at home! Scientists find new way to stop skin ageing A bleach dilution found to be effective in treating skin damage Scientists believe a 0.005 per cent solution helps inhibit inflammation But experts warn people not to apply bleach directly to their skin (File picture) Scientists have found a bleach dilution has been found to be effective in treating skin damage - but they are warning people not to apply bleach directly to their skin Forget overpriced moisturisers, another staple of your bathroom cabinet could provide a cheaper way to stop skin ageing. A bleach dilution has been found to be effective in treating skin damage caused by radiation therapy, excess sun exposure or ageing, according to scientists. They believe a 0.005 per cent solution, which is much weaker than bleach sold on supermarket shelves, helps to inhibit inflammation in the skin. However, experts are warning people not to apply bleach directly to their skin. Doctors have known for decades that bathing in diluted bleach helps alleviate severe eczema, but have never known exactly why. 'Originally it was thought that bleach may serve an antimicrobial function, killing bacteria and viruses on the skin,' said Dr Thomas Leung from Stanford University. But the concentrations used in clinic are not high enough for this to be the sole reason. So we wondered if there could be something else going on. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, found that mice exposed to radiation had reduced skin damage when bathed in the solution. Tests showed that low doses of bleach blocked a chemical that triggers the immune system's inflammatory response. Although an inflammatory response is vital for fighting infection, it can cause damage if there is an overreaction, and the solution helped prevent this. The researchers are now considering clinical trials in humans, and they are looking at other diseases that could be treated by dilute-bleach baths. 'It's possible that, in addition to being beneficial to radiation dermatitis, it could also aid in healing wounds like diabetic ulcers,' Dr Leung said. This is exciting because there are so few side effects to dilute bleach. We may have identified other ways to use hypochlorite to really help patients. It could be easy, safe and inexpensive.