Salt has managed to earn a somewhat dubious reputation in recent years. While dietary salt is now seen as a dangerous instigator of high blood pressure, salt water, applied topically, may actually be good for your skin. Let’s take a look at how this simple remedy can help your skin.
1. Exfoliate Skin With Salt Water
[pullquote]Remember to wash off salt water after you apply it to the skin as it can soak up moisture and dry out your skin.1[/pullquote]
Regular exfoliation removes dead skin cells and improves the appearance of your skin. And the good news is that you don’t need expensive skin scrubs for this. Rinsing your skin with plain old salt water will do. But remember, how often you need to exfoliate depends on your skin type. If you have oily, thick skin, it may help to exfoliate frequently, while those with dry or sensitive should probably stick to exfoliating once or twice a week.2 3
2. Disinfect Skin And Clean Cuts And Scrapes
Minor cuts and scrapes are an inescapable part of life. A simple salt water solution works well as a disinfectant since it has antimicrobial properties. Prepare a salt water solution by mixing 2 teaspoons of table salt in 4 cups of warm water. You can either bathe small wounds in this solution or apply a clean washcloth soaked in it for about 20 minutes thrice daily. This will help clean your wound and keep nasty infections at bay.4
3. Make Your Own Natural Deodorant
Body odor is caused by bacteria which break down sweat and raise a stink. Salt has antibacterial properties and can neutralize them. Try mixing sea salt with vegetable oil and a few drops of a fragrant essential oil like lavender oil or rose oil. Use this as a scrub while you shower to leave your skin fragrant. At a pinch, you can even soak a tissue in plain salt water solution and use it as a wipe on sweaty armpits.5
4. Tackle Acne With A Salt Water–Tea Tree Oil Skin Routine
Salt water can be your ally against those annoying zits. It helps tackle acne because it is drying and can also reduce skin bacteria. Soak a cotton pad in sea salt water and apply it on pimples.6 Follow up with a dab of antimicrobial tea tree oil which works against bacteria associated with acne.7
5. Use Magnesium-Rich Dead Sea Salt Water To Improve Atopic Dry Skin
Dead sea water, which is rich in magnesium salts, is widely known to be good for your skin. One study found that when people with atopic dry skin submerged their forearm in a solution containing 5% dead sea salts, it significantly improved skin barrier function, moisturized skin, and decreased signs of inflammation such as skin roughness and redness.
The favorable effects of dead sea salt solution are likely due to the presence of magnesium salts. These have beneficial properties such as the ability to bind water and influence the proliferation of skin cells.8 Remember, regular salt will only absorb water and dry out your skin instead of moisturizing it. The protective properties of dead sea salts come from magnesium, not sodium chloride. So, do remember to check the ingredient list for this mineral when you buy dead sea salt.9
6. Try A Salt Water Bath Before Phototherapy To Tackle Psoriasis
Salt water baths are often combined with phototherapy to treat psoriasis. UVB rays used in phototherapy can help clear psoriasis by slowing down the growth of skin cells that are affected.10 And how is salt water useful? One study found that exposing skin to salt water before UVB radiation increased skin reddening. So salt water may increase the efficacy of UVB phototherapy as it can sensitize your skin to the effects of UVB radiation. However, do keep in mind that this increased sensitization also comes with a higher risk of sunburn! 11
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