Question about Dead Sea Salt Bath

[skipmoocow]

I would like to give dead sea bath salts a try with a bath.  I have several concerns which I'd like people's opinions on. 

1) I read that the salts make the bath very alkaline, and to reduce damage to my acid mantle, I should put in some apple cider vinegar.  Might the vinegar negate the effects of the salts?  Should I put in the vinegar, and if so, how much with a bath?

2) As an eczema sufferer, I found that limiting the time I spend in the shower has helped me.  When I used to take long hot showers, my eczema would worsen.  I don't know if this is a result of drying out of the skin from the hot water, or the high pH of the water, or my body reacting to prolonged water exposure, or a combination of everything.  So I'm wondering whether or not it's a good idea to be soaking in a hot/warm bath full of this stuff.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[meggiesmum]

hi there

I'm not sure about eczema but as a psoriasis sufferer, i've found dead sea salts very soothing. I dont have the water really hot, just warm enough to be comfortable and i do make sure i moisturise completely afterwards.

Maybe it would be worth giving it a try and if it doesnt work out, then at least you'll know its not for you.

Good luck 

[kat475]

i have psoriasis and i too love the dead sea salts. Just keep the water a little warm, not too hot and totally moisturize. If you have the opportunity, soaking in ocean water is wonderful. I don't know if you live near or can get to a beach, but i cleared my psoriasis back in january by visiting a tropical region and basically living in the water and the sun. Totally cleared my (very bad) psoriasis. I am still clear except for a few spots and my scalp which just will NOT give up.

[meggiesmum]

hi kat

great news about you being clear! I'm sorry about yr scalp but if you're anything like me, it just wont budge lol

[Paradise]

2) As an eczema sufferer, I found that limiting the time I spend in the shower has helped me.  When I used to take long hot showers, my eczema would worsen.  I don't know if this is a result of drying out of the skin from the hot water, or the high pH of the water, or my body reacting to prolonged water exposure, or a combination of everything.  So I'm wondering whether or not it's a good idea to be soaking in a hot/warm bath full of this stuff.

skipmoocow,

Welcome to SkinCell.
I bought some Dead Sea bath salts a while back but I've not started using those but I do agree limiting your time spent in the showers helps skin from drying out and use warm water even though sometimes it feels good to take a hot shower.
Also, you have to remember every time coming out of the shower to put on your moisturizer right away (within 3-5 minutes is usually what I try to do).

[Paradise]

If you have the opportunity, soaking in ocean water is wonderful.

Hi Kat,

I agree.  Soaking your skin in ocean water does do wonders for my eczema as well.  One thing you have to be careful is that it will sting like hell at first on any open wound you have but the salt water is supposed to kill off germs and bacteria so it's good    

[MarieC]

I'm not sure if those particular salts are alkaline, but putting in maybe 2 cups of  vinegar or so will drop the pH of the water.

I also find limiting the time I spend in the shower helpful, along with only using lukewarm water instead of hot. Our water here is pretty alkaline too, when I went up to the mountains a couple months ago, I loved their water. It didn't dry my skin out as much as the water does here in the city.

[kat475]

hi kat

great news about you being clear! I'm sorry about yr scalp but if you're anything like me, it just wont budge lol

i don' t know why it is, rosie...scalp p is just the worst!! I haven't been as good with putting on my topicals, so that's part of it i'm sure. I just hate the d*mn greasy feeling of all the scalp gunk i have to use

[kat475]

If you have the opportunity, soaking in ocean water is wonderful.

Hi Kat,

I agree.  Soaking your skin in ocean water does do wonders for my eczema as well.  One thing you have to be careful is that it will sting like hell at first on any open wound you have but the salt water is supposed to kill off germs and bacteria so it's good    

paradise, when i went to st. thomas in january, i almost cried the first few days i was in the water because of all the open wounds. It stung SOOOO bad. I just didn't give up...i went home at the end of the week with spots still all over me and then miraculously, they all just started to disappear. If you had seen my skin before, you would have been amazed at the results. I know now i will go to the tropics EVERY year no matter what. It is worth the expense for me!

[bronzon]

hi kat

great news about you being clear! I'm sorry about yr scalp but if you're anything like me, it just wont budge lol

yeah, same here, too. although head and shoulders shampoo and conditioner helps me a bit.  if i use other shampoo, it just becomes like there's snow here...!

[bronzon]

If you have the opportunity, soaking in ocean water is wonderful.

Hi Kat,

I agree.  Soaking your skin in ocean water does do wonders for my eczema as well.  One thing you have to be careful is that it will sting like hell at first on any open wound you have but the salt water is supposed to kill off germs and bacteria so it's good    

this is so silly but when i was younger, i was afraid to soak in the sea because i was afraid the fishes would all come and nibble at my flaky skin (scene i imagine was like being eaten by a piranha) and everybody would look at me like i was weird or something...

[kat475]

bronzon, i'm assuming you've seen this or heard of these "doctor fish" that will help cure you of psoriasis....sounds bizarre, huh?


http://www.psoriasisfishcure.com/treatment/psoriasis_package1.htm

[bronzon]

bronzon, i'm assuming you've seen this or heard of these "doctor fish" that will help cure you of psoriasis....sounds bizarre, huh?


http://www.psoriasisfishcure.com/treatment/psoriasis_package1.htm

omg, has anyone here tried this?  this is quite interesting, but ehrm... scary??

[meggiesmum]

A link Peter gave me for your attention.

http://www.psorsite.com/docs/doctorfish.html

[vera]

Dead Sea salts are NOT alkaline! That is the whole point. I clocked them at 5.8 pH.

Do not need to add anything. just the salts, 1-2 c per bathtub.

They are wonderful, imo.

[backitup]

hi guy's!! i also heard that natural sea water(the ocean) has worked wonder's on some..although it's still too col here (im in the us) i am definitely going to try it this summer...as far as the scalp goes, I tried vinegar treatment for the first time today...I poured apple cider vinegar in a hair dye applicator and applied ot to my scalp and rubbed it in. I put a shower cap on , then wrapped my head in a towel for two hours.. i washed it using tea tree shampoo from paul mitchel, conditioned hair and acalp as usual and styled...i am not sure how it will feel tomorrow, but as for now i have no itching like i normally would soon after styling my hair..I am going to continue this process for a while and leave you updates on any progress:)

[soonersseth]

does the dead sea salt bath work on scalp P ?

[Nick]

does the dead sea salt bath work on scalp P ?

When I tried dead sea mud many moons ago it did help, although it used to fill up my keyboard as I sat in front of the PC.

Make sure you have a good vacuum cleaner

[Aquababe241]

My skin was feeling itchy and dry so I made the following concoction with ordinary Sea Salt from my local health food store

1. 2 tablespoons of Aalgo seaweed (or kelp powder)
2. 1 cupful of oatmeal
3. I bag of Sea salt
4. Tablespoon of Argiletz clay

It was green, lukewarm and lovely...I almost fell asleep and my skin has been feeling lovely ever since.  The dryness and itching has reduced a lot.

Aquababe

[anthropositor]

All salts are alkaline by definition.  pH 7 is neutral.  All lower numbers are acidic.  All higher numbers are alkaline.  The more the deviation from 7 the greater the degree of acidity or alkalinity.  I have not used "Dead Sea Salts."  I do not know that they contain only salts.  I don't know how they were "clocked" demonstrating a pH of 5.8 but if the reading is an accurate one, it is an indicator that there is an acidifying component in the salts.  Such a mild deviation from normal is not particularly significant for most people.  It is the ultimate results that count.

Just because someone calls something "Dead Sea Salts" does not mean that the salts are entirely without other substances.  Use them cautiously in modest amounts.  If they seem beneficial, continue.  If they don't, don't.