Have you ever wondered whether salt can be useful for your skin? Salt, or otherwise referred to as “Epsom salt” or “bath salt”, is an entirely distinct substance from the regular table salt. In fact, the name Epsom comes from a little town in Surrey, England, where the material originated.
You will notice Epsom salts similarly resembling table salts; however, people often mix Epsom salts in their baths. Hence, the name “bath salt”. And yet, both salts may appear similar, but take note that Epsom can have a biting and unpleasant taste.
For years, people have relied on this salt to relieve conditions such as insomnia, fibromyalgia, and constipation. Nonetheless, experts have yet to document the impact of Epsom on these ailments, although the favourable effects of Epsom are probably due to its high levels of magnesium.
When an individual adds salt to a bath, the body lightly takes in the magnesium through the skin. Thus, leading us to the topic, how can salts benefit your skin?
Eases Skin Irritation Or Redness
One of the benefits of salt is that it can help to ease redness and skin irritation triggered by contact dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. If you have a bathtub at home, follow the steps below to relieve your condition:
- Apply 1 cup of bath or Epsom salt to a regular-sized tub
- Pour out the Epsom salt into your bath. Remember to stir the warm water with your hands to melt all the granules.
- Soak in the warm bath for around 20 minutes
Remedy Scaly Or Dry Skin
Bath salts also aid in treating scaly, itchy or dry skin prompted by insect bites. Below are simple steps you can take to care for dry skin:
- Prepare a tablespoon of Olive oil and 1 to 2 cups of bath salt.
- Mix the Epsom salt and Olive oil in the warm bath. Stir the water with your bare hands to help the concoction quickly blend.
- Stay in the bath for about 12 minutes and repeat 2 to 3 times a week.
Reduce Foot Odor & Effects of Athlete’s Foot
Many people likewise love soaking their feet in bath salts. Bear in mind that the Epsom Salt Council experts state that the compound doesn’t eliminate the fungus that triggers an athlete’s foot. However, it assists in pulling out the moisture that prompts the fungus.
Aside from the above, soaking your feet in Epsom salts can likewise decrease foot odor and ingrown toenail wound. Here’s how you can prepare your foot soak:
- Apply ½ cup of bath salt to a sizeable basin filled with lukewarm water. Stir the water to melt the salt.
- Soak both of your feet for around 30 to 60 minutes once or twice a week.
- Don’t forget to moisturize your feet entirely after your foot soak.
Other Products You Can Combine To Enrich Salt Benefits
Now that you’re aware of how using salts can benefit your skin, know that you can mix other products in to enhance your bath salts’ effect. Here are a few of them:
Essential Oils
Most of the time, people love using bath salts to relax. You can enhance your bath experience by adding in therapeutic oils such as vanilla, eucalyptus, lavender or bergamot.
Remember though that you’ll need to dilute these oils with another carrier oil before use. Some of the common carrier oils are coconut or sweet almond oil.
Olive Oil
When mixing Olive oil in a bath, it can assist in softening your skin. You can add a ½ cup of this oil to improve your bath.
However, since oil can make your floor slippery, be careful when going in and out of the tub. Also, Olive oil isn’t suitable for seniors and young children since they are susceptible to falling.
Baking Soda
With baking soda’s antifungal properties, the product can be an excellent addition to your bath salts. A baking soda and bath salt concoction can help to mitigate itchiness and harmful germs, as well as to soothe your skin.
Overall, remember to only buy authentic Epsom salt with the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) label. This tag means that the company tested the product for human consumption or use, based on the regulations of the United States Food and Drug Association (FDA).
You can purchase bath or Epsom salts at your local pharmacies, health food stores, or you can search for them on the internet. Check the product that you’re eyeing and make sure that the packaging displays the drug fact details and ingredients. And finally, while people typically use salts in a bathtub, you can still bask in their benefits while taking a shower. You can do this by creating a salt shower scrub.
Speak Your Mind