Are you searching to know if it is healthy to wash your face with salt? Have you ever returned from a beach vacation with *a chef’s kiss* on your face and skin? You might have wondered if you could get the same effect at home by washing your face and spritzing your hair with sea salt water.
Perhaps you’ve seen TikTok videos claiming that washing your face with sea salt water will heal acne and help you get that fresh-off-the-beach appearance. But should you give it a shot? Is all that salt good for your hair and skin?
Before you replace your normal face wash with a splash of seawater, read on to see what specialists have to say about using salt water on your face, including what it can and cannot do.
Contents
- 1 Is it healthy to wash your face with salt?
- 2 What about the face and skin benefits of using salt water?
- 3 When to Consult a Dermatologist
- 4 The Bottom-line on ”if it is healthy to wash your face with salt”
- 5 The Beneficial Effects of a Sea Salt Bath
- 6 What exactly is sea salt?
- 7 The Advantages of a Sea Salt Bath
Is it healthy to wash your face with salt?
According to Snehal Amin, MD, FAAD, salt water has been used to disinfect and wash skin since ancient Egypt. Amin, a board-certified dermatologist and the co-founder and Surgical Director of MDCS Dermatology continues by explaining that, sure, salt water is to blame for skin feeling smoother and drier after a day at the beach.
What about the face and skin benefits of using salt water?
“Salt removes dead skin cells by acting as a mechanical exfoliant and scrub.” This results in smoother, softer, and brighter skin. Salts absorb poisons and suck dirt and oil out by osmotic action. “Improved pore size is another advantage,” Amin adds.
However, before you stock up on salt, keep in mind that washing your face with salt water should only be done on occasion, according to Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at La Jolla Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center.
Without a doubt, most individuals would like to have cleaner, softer, smoother skin, as well as fewer pores. Both experts agree, however, that salt water is ideal for persons who have oily or greasy skin.
Potential Disadvantages
While you may have come across Internet advice or TikTok videos portraying DIY salt water as a simple and magical answer to all of your skin problems, this is not the truth.
According to Shirazi, washing your face with salt water can be harsh and unpleasant, and excessive use might weaken your skin barrier.
“This can worsen some skin conditions like acne and eczema, or potentially cause hyperpigmentation and scarring as a result. It may also delay proper treatment and care from a dermatologist,” cautions Shirazi.
How to Do It
If you do wish to try washing your face with salt water, bear in mind that overdoing it might result in dry and damaged skin. You may, for example, begin by using a saltwater wash once or twice a week to see how your skin reacts.
When it comes to putting salt on your skin, Amin also advises against washing.
“Salt is corrosive and can cause skin damage if applied in high concentrations for an extended period.” “My general advice is that a salt scrub is fine for the body but should be avoided for the face,” Amin explains.
Amin provides the following guidelines for creating your saltwater solution:
- Boil 2 cups (500 mL) of tap water and 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of fine sea salt or table salt to a boil. Use coarse salt sparingly.
- Allow the mixture to cool in an open, but loosely covered, container.
- Close the jar firmly after it has reached room temperature.
- Keep it at room temperature.
You should use sea salt instead of table salt. Because it is less processed, sea salt includes trace minerals.
If you want to experiment with washing your face with salt water, consider one of these gentle methods:
- Wipe your face lightly with a cotton ball or pad soaked in your saltwater solution.
- Spray the salt water onto your face and use a cotton pad to gently wipe away any excess.
Here are a few more ways to safeguard your sensitive facial skin:
- Allow the saltwater combination to cool before using it, since hot water can burn or dry and irritate your skin even more.
More salt does not imply more advantages.
To assist avoid dryness, follow the saltwater wash with a moisturizer that works well for your skin type.
Read also: Difference Between Acne and Pimples?
Things to Note
One thing to think about before diving into the saltwater trend? It might not have the desired impact.
In other words, a handmade saltwater combination does not deliver the same advantages as ocean water.
Actual ocean salt water contains more than simply salt. It also includes naturally occurring minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium. As Shirazi points out, these minerals, which are most likely responsible for the skin advantages, are likewise difficult to recreate at home.
Again, salt may be harsh, so it may have a drying impact on your skin, leading to irritation and peeling.
Shirazi suggests utilizing professionally prepared cosmetics if you have dry skin. These are gentler on your skin and may work better than ordinary salt water.
Pay attention to any indicators of skin irritation or dryness when washing your face with salt water. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should probably stop applying salt to your face:
- redness
- flaking
- a feeling of skin tightness
- itching
- scaling or peeling
- changes in your skin color, like dark or ashy patches
When to Consult a Dermatologist
Washing your face with salt water may not be the solution if you have persisting skin issues, such as:
- acne
- inflammation and discoloration
- persistent dryness or sensitivity
- itchy and irritated skin
Instead, make an appointment with a dermatologist to acquire a diagnosis.
A dermatologist can assist diagnose and treat skin problems, but they may also provide additional information on recognizing and caring for your skin type.
You can get a reference from a friend or a healthcare professional, but you can also identify a board-certified dermatologist in your region by visiting the website of the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).
The Bottom-line on ”if it is healthy to wash your face with salt”
While a swim in the ocean might leave your skin feeling fantastic, recreating the sea’s charm at home and washing your face with homemade ocean water may not have the same impact.
Nonetheless, salt water might be beneficial to your face and skin.
If you decide to give it a shot, go light on the salt and use salt water sparingly to avoid drying out your skin. If you need further help managing acne or any other skin problem, consult a dermatologist.
The Beneficial Effects of a Sea Salt Bath
If your nighttime showers need an upgrade, try adding a little salt to spice things up.
Sea salt baths are popular for their therapeutic and healing characteristics, as well as their capacity to relieve stress and improve general health.
But, before you turn on the water and dive in, consider the following expert advice:
- Types of sea salt
- Benefits
- Precautions
- Steps to taking a sea salt bath
What exactly is sea salt?
Sea salt is a salt formed by the evaporation of saltwater. Sea salt is distinguished from table salt by its flavor, texture, and manufacturing technique.
According to the American Heart Association sea salt is often unprocessed or lightly treated because it is obtained straight from ocean evaporation.
Because of the minimum processing, sea salt contains a variety of trace minerals such as:
Since table salt is used in recipes and on food, it is processed to achieve a fine texture. When this happens, the minerals found in sea salt are lost.
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The Advantages of a Sea Salt Bath
If you want to reduce tension, relax achy muscles, and soothe inflamed skin, you might try having a sea salt bath.
While soaking in a tub is a relaxing method to unwind after a long day, adding sea salts is supposed to enhance the benefits to your skin, muscles, and joints.
- Beneficial for Rheumatic disorders
According to a systematic study published in the journal Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, sea salt baths are effective in the treatment of rheumatic disorders such as:
2. Beneficial to your skin
A sea salt bath will also benefit your skin, which is the biggest organ in your body.
“Board-certified dermatologists are recommending sea salt baths for patients with psoriasis, eczema, and other dry skin conditions,” says Dr. Sapna Palep of Spring Street Dermatology.
This is hardly surprising, especially given that sea salt baths can help relieve the symptoms of some skin disorders.
“Salt baths can help remove scales and decrease the bothersome itching caused by psoriasis,” explains Dr. Gretchen Frieling, a board-certified dermatopathologist.
She also mentions that sea salts may benefit persons suffering from acne and atopic dermatitis.
3. It soothes aching muscles and increases circulation.
Other advantages of taking a sea salt bath include:
- promoting circulation
- relieving muscular spasms
- assisting in the relief of joint stiffness
- easing aching, weary legs and feet
How to Take a Bath with Sea Salt
Medical esthetician Holly Cutler suggests the following measures while having a sea salt bath for relaxation:
- Fill a standard-sized bathtub to your liking with 1/4 cup of sea salt.
- To reap the advantages of the sea salt bath, aim for water that is two degrees warmer than your body temperature.
- Soak in the tub for 15 to 20 minutes, or as long as you like.
- After your bath, pat your skin dry and apply a moisturizer.
If 1/4 cup isn’t enough, Frieling says a healthy adult can add up to 2 cups of sea salt to warm water in a typical size tub, depending on body size and skin condition.
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