Surprising Ways Salt Can Restore Your Skin And Body
Our bodies contain the same concentration of minerals and nutrients as sea water, so it’s no wonder that sea salt is a natural ally to balance, protect, and restore the body and skin.
One of the major differences between sea salt and ordinary salt is the mineral content: Sea salt is laden with minerals, including magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium, all of which play a key role in our skin’s health, function, and cellular communication. When your skin’s mineral balance is off-kilter, symptoms such as dryness, dullness, irritation, and blotchiness ensue, especially as the colder, dryer weather sets in. Bringing sea salt from the kitchen into your beauty routine can help balance and improve hydration, strengthen the protective barrier of our skin, and kick-start the cell-to-cell communication signals that slow down with age.
1. Balancing Mask
Both salt and honey have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe skin and calm breakouts and irritation. They also help to balance oil production and retain hydration in the layers of skin where it’s needed most.
2. Oil-Sapping Facial Toner
Salt helps to cleanse pores deeply, balance oil production and thwart bacteria that can instigate breakouts and acne.
Try it: Mix one teaspoon sea salt with four ounces of warm water in small spray bottle until salt is dissolved. Mist on clean, dry skin, avoiding eyes. Use daily or twice daily.
3. Softening Body Scrub
4. Rejuvenating Scrub
5. Relaxing Salt Bath
6. Anti-Dandruff Scalp Treatment
Epsom Salt Bath For Body Acne
Body acne can occur on areas of the body like your back, chest, and shoulders. You can use any of the above methods on these areas, but an easier way to use Epsom salt for body acne might be an Epsom salt bath. Try pouring one cup of Epsom salt into a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes. Rinse off with mild soap and warm water.
A Great Remedy For Various Skin Conditions
Magnesium, calcium, and potassium are all skin-friendly minerals that can be found in sea salt. These minerals are great benefits of salt water since they help combat acne-causing bacteria, skin infections, and speed up the healing process.
Those with oily skin can benefit from washing with a saltwater solution with its moisture-reducing abilities that can help control excess oil, which leads to clogged pores.
If you have eczema, you can really benefit by using salt water in your skincare routine since magnesium is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial mineral that alleviates itching and reduces moisture from bacteria and fungi that causes eczema.
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Mild Acne Scars
Does Hard Water Cause Acne
Yes.
Unlike soft water, hard water has high mineral content. These minerals directly irritate the skin and interfere with every skincare product type.
For example, soaps and cleansers are rendered useless when combined with hard water. Instead of forming a cleansing lather, they rather form a weakly soapy scum after reacting with the minerals in hard water. The calcium in hard water is especially blamed for this interference.
Furthermore, hard water makes it difficult to remove the soap used and scum formed on the skin. Therefore, the skin is irritated for longer and it becomes dry and reddened.
These residual effects can trigger increased sebum production and acne breakouts.
Also, the scum formed from hard water combine with the ingredients of skincare products to clog the pores. These impurities also change the nature of the sebum from a free-flowing oil to a sticky wax which then clogs the pores too.
The minerals in hard water can also cause damage to the skin by promoting the breakdown of collagen and the development of acne lesions.
Home filtration systems are often unable to remove the heavy metals in hard water. Metals such as iron, copper, lead, zinc, and magnesium should not stay for long on the skin since they cause damage to the skin.
To prevent acne breakouts due to hard water, you should switch to soft water.
Alternatively, make sure to use skincare and acne products formulated with chelators which can remove heavy metals from the skin.
Acts As A Facial Toner
Salt water is an excellent facial toner. Applying salt water on your skin helps shrink your pores and removes oil from them, giving your skin a refreshing feel.
To use salt water as a facial toner, pour it into a bottle with a spray nozzle. The best time to use your salt water toner is after washing your face and before you apply makeup. This will ensure your skin remains oil-free and fresh throughout the day!
Recommended Reading: How To Reduce Redness On Face From Acne
Why Wash Your Face With Salt Water
Salt water has been recognized for its ability to disinfect and cleanse skin since ancient Egypt, says Snehal Amin, MD, FAAD. Amin, a board certified dermatologist and the co-founder and Surgical Director of MDCS Dermatology, goes on to explain that yes, salt water is responsible for making skin feel smoother and drier after a day at the beach.
As for the benefits of salt water for skin?
Salt acts as a mechanical exfoliant and scrub, removing dead skin cells. This leaves the skin feeling smoother, softer, and brighter. Through osmotic actions, salts absorb toxins and draw out dirt and oil. Improved pore size is another benefit, says Amin.
But before you load up on packages of salt, know that washing your face with salt water should be reserved for occasional use, according to Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board certified dermatologist at La Jolla Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center.
Without a doubt, most people would probably love to have cleaner, softer, smoother skin, not to mention pores that appear smaller. Both experts agree, though, that salt water works best for people with oily or acne-prone skin though it may not actually treat acne.
I dont consider it as a treatment for acne on its own, Shirazi emphasizes.
Sea Salt With Olive Oil
The essential fatty acids present in olive oil heal the damaged skin. It exfoliates the dead skin cells and other impurities clogging the pores.
- Combine 1 cup of sea salt and ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil.
- Wash your face with water and using fingertips, apply the mixture to the wet skin, massaging in circular motions.
- Leave it on for 5 minutes or until dry, then rinse with warm water and pat dry.
- Repeat the process daily.
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container for future use.
Note: You can also add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil.
Recommended Reading: How Much Is Laser Acne Scar Removal
Is Salt Water Good For Your Skin
Salt water offers many benefits to your skin and body. What makes salt water even more popular is the ease with which one can prepare it at home or source it from the sea. Salt water is a healing substance that can reinvigorate and rejuvenate your skin, hair, and nails.
The salt water from the deep sea contains many beneficial minerals, vitamins, and acids. Some commonly found minerals in salt water include potassium, magnesium, and sulfur, among others . Due to these nutrients, many ancient civilizations have used salt water to manage skin conditions.
Salt water benefits the skin, and its healing properties make it a crucial ingredient in many relaxing and skin care treatments like balneotherapy and thalassotherapy , .
Saltwater from the sea is also said to have a similar chemical composition to the bodys blood plasma. Therefore, it helps the body cells function well and restores cells that are not performing to their potential. However, there is not much scientific evidence to prove the same.
May Relieve Skin Conditions
Salt water from the sea contains various minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc., all of which are said to have healing effects on dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis .
People with dry skin must be careful when using salt water as it can dry out their skin even more. The best way to go about using it on dry skin is to follow it up with a moisturizing cream.
You May Like: How Many Mg Of Spironolactone For Acne
Benefits Of Salt Water For Your Skin
Sometimes the best remedies in life are the simplest ones. This is certainly true for an ancient skincare trick known to close pores, balance oil production and rejuvenate the skin. You wont need fancy skin creams filled with chemicals and preservatives to achieve a youthful glow after this. You can start improving the quality of your skin with only two things: purified water and high-quality salt.
What does salt do to the body?
Rarely do we think about what goes into natures most common treasures, like salt. This natural mineral comes straight from the earth, formed into crystals from a combination of sodium and chloride. It is naturally found in seawater, making up at least three percent of our worlds oceans. And when seawater is trapped, the water evaporates and leaves salt crystals behind.
Despite what you may have heard about sodium and your health, a natural source of saltholds vital nutrients that are important in maintaining optimal wellness. First, salt provides key minerals like sulphur, calcium, sodium, magnesium, silicon, boron, potassium, bromine and strontium. With its rich mineral content, salt can help with weight loss, reduce asthma symptoms, improve blood sugar levels and regulate heart health.
For your skincare routine, and health in general, try using these unprocessed varieties:
Sea salt for skin
Pink Himalayan salt for skin
How salt water can benefit your skin
Salt water is said to benefit your skin in the following eleven ways:
Sole Ingredients
Does Salt Water Balance Your Skin Ph
Sea salt is ocean water evaporated whats left behind thats your sea salt.
There are about 3.5grams of sea salt in 100grams of sea water.
So if you add 3.5grams of sea salt to 96.5grams of water, youre likely going to have a pH of around 8.1.
Pretty alkaline.
Thats tipping your skins pH see-saw heavily away from its ideal 4.2-5.
And remember how high pH levels cause acne bacteria to thrive?
Sea salt doesnt balance your skin pH it could actually do the opposite.
So why are TikTokers seeing such great results?
Heres my take
When your skin gets alkaline, your skin gets drier. Its why when you wash your hands loads, your hands get dry and peely. Drying your skin temporarily removes some of your skins oiliness and can help temporarily make acne and breakouts clear up.
Its defo not an acne cure though.
Just like I tell all the wonderful ladies I work with inside The Acne Clinic our aim is to get you clear skin thats comfortable, calm, happy and acne resisting. Because theres no one cure for acne, acne can happen to anyone with the right explosion of acne triggers. An acne cure is identifying your acne triggers and healing them long-term.
Also Check: What Gets Rid Of Dark Acne Scars
If Diving Into The Ocean In Winter Is Not Your Ideal Way To Reduce Your Acne There Is A Way It Can Be Done At Home
I am not saying this is to cure acne as we know that to treat acne it requires a whole body approach and sometimes a team of people in your corner from doctors, naturopaths and skin therapists.
But this is just another tool in your belt to help fight acne and have bright clear skin. If you want to have a chat about what is best for you and your skin journey come and see one of our skin therapists and see how we can help you.
There Is Magic In The Water Sea Salt To Be Exact
Do you remember how someone always seemed to think that gargling with salt water would be the perfect way to help heal the fresh new hole in your gums from pulling a tooth? Or that it was absolutely necessary to clean any new piercings with salt water? Oddly enough, this was not just an old wives tale — there is a method behind the madness! If you are lucky enough to call yourself a beach bunny through and through, you probably have some pretty gorgeous skin. This is because there is magic in the water sea salt to be exact!
Sea salt water and blood plasma have almost identical chemical compositions of mineral and trace elements. If white blood cells were to be removed from the body and placed in sterile, diluted seawater, they could pretty much function as usual. Blood plasma and seawater are the only two environments similar enough for this to happen, which is pretty incredible! Because of this, some of the amazing benefits that sea salt can have on your skin include opening up your pores, soaking up excess oils, diminishing scars, fighting off acne-causing bacteria, and reducing inflammation. Heres the magic
After reading about all the amazing things that come with beach days, its time to start booking your spring break trips ASAP!
Recommended Reading: Does Apple Cider Vinegar Clear Acne
Does Drinking Water Clear Acne
The short answer is no.
It is easy to rationalize that drinking water will reduce or clear acne breakouts but for all the scientific studies done to find such a link, it has not been found. Therefore, the common advice to drink eight glasses of water daily to keep your face clear of acne is only backed by wishful thinking.
The reasoning behind the popular belief that drinking water helps clear acne is due to the role of water as a detoxifier and the fact that the causes of acne are skin-deep. The two assumptions are right to an extent but do not add up neatly.
Water is definitely needed for healthy skin and it cannot be replaced by beverages, sodas, and other high caloric, high glycemic drinks.
These drinks only increase the level of toxins present in the body, and some of them may even contribute to acne breakouts by indirectly triggering acne-causing hormones such as insulin-like growth factor 1 .
In contrast, besides all the benefits that drinking water provides, it will not stimulate the production of any acne-causing hormone or increase the toxin load of the body.
Water may only help clear acne because it becomes the fluid replacement for these drinks. On its own, it does not affect acne one way or the other.
Some people also believe that increased water intake helps prevent the dehydration of the skin. This is only partly true. For those concerned about dry skin, oil-free moisturizers provide better hydration of the skin than water.
Does Salt Water Help Acne Only With This Unique Routine
Dec 22, 2020 | Acne Treatments, Bacterial Acne, Fungal Acne, GET RID OF ACNE, Pregnancy Acne
Does salt water help acne? Thats a definite yes!
In this article, learn all about the benefits of using salt water for acne as an all-natural cure.
You cant use any old salt though this guide will show you which salt to use to get the best results, as well as the unconventional but effective routine to follow that will benefit your skin the most.
Read on to learn how to cure your acne fast with salt water!
You May Like: What Is Retinol For Acne
Sea Salt Balances Your Skin Ph True Or False
Okay, okay so lets look at reason number two for why sea salt for acne might work.
Those claims it also balances your skin pH.
This could be a very, very good thing as an off-balance skin pH encourages acne bacteria to thrive.
It basically makes your skin a comfy couch for acne bacteria. Like those iconic TOGO sofas oh gosh I wish I had me one of those.
Some published science studies even show acne can be directly related to a higher skin pH
acne occurrences in the case group were related to high skin pH.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017 Jul 10: 3339.
Psst when your skins at its healthiest your skin pH is somewhere between 4.2-5.
I bet youre asking me already eh so whats the pH of sea salt water? Whats the pH of ocean water?
Youre always one step ahead of me
Well my friend I want to draw your attention to a specific bit of .
The bit where she says, I washed my face, I sprayed the sea salt, like a generous amount and I just went to bed. Like it itched a little bit and it felt you know, sea-salty
Do you see the bit I bolded?It itched a bit.
Boom alert, alert, alert.
Skin itching is a sign of skin barrier disruption and skin barrier disruption aka your skin barrier being upset is a sign your skins pH level is too high aka too alkaline.
Because heres the deal
Your skin pH at its happiest = 4.2-5.
The pH of tap water = from 6.5ish in a soft water area to > 8.5 in a hard water area.
In the acne cure TikTok experiments its a sea salt spray.
Should You Try Using Salt Water For Acne
While science hasnt yet shown that spritzing your face with salt water will make your stubborn pimples disappear, Dr Garshick says its okay to give it a shot if youre curious. Just know that you might not experience any magical skin-clearing effects.
Im always a believer that if you want to try something, try it things work differently for different people, she says. But for something like acne, where we really do have great treatment options, its still generally advised to speak to a board-certified dermatologist and focus on the key ingredients that we do have lots of clinical studies to show benefits for.
This story first appeared on www.shape.com
Shape and the Shape Logo are registered trademarks of Meredith Corporation. Used under License.
Read Also: Does Balcoltra Help With Acne
