Is salt water good for your skin? When you think of salt water, you typically picture the ocean or lounging on the beach for the day. But the classic holiday item has also lately gone hot on TikTok, where people are saying that washing your face with salt water will help treat acne and lessen redness.
Is salt water the key to flawless skin free of acne? To get the skinny on all we needed to know about washing your face with salt water, we consulted with two dermatologists: Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, and Denny Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD. Scroll down to get all the information.
What’s So Bad About Salt Water?
Is salt water good for your skin? As the name suggests, salt water is just a solution of salt and water. In addition to finding it in the ocean, you may create your spray at home by mixing salt and water. Generally, ordinary tap water and soluble salt—like table salt rather than coarse sea salt—are used to make salt water.
Salt water has become more well-known in recent TikTok videos as users believe it may treat acne, lessen redness, and aid with other skin issues. On the app, many specialists caution against using it since it might aggravate skin conditions and weaken the skin’s protective layer. Dermatologists nevertheless recommend adopting other alternatives to get the same results—without worrying about needless side effects—even though it has some favorable aspects.
The Advantages of Salt Water
Although there are many benefits to utilizing saltwater on your skin when done correctly, physicians do not encourage using it or even recommend it at all because it can be very drying. If you do decide to use it, though, there are certain advantages like whitening, smoothing, and lowering oil production.
Acne relief: Applying salt water to your face, which acts as a physical exfoliator, can help to thoroughly clean your pores. According to Engelman, “this might have the advantageous side effect of reducing acne.”
Removes surplus oil: Removing dead skin cells, grime, and other accumulations can be aided by buffing away excess oil. “Washing with salt water can help to reduce excess oil, making it a good option for those with oily skin,” says Garshick.
Smoothes and brightens the skin: According to Garshick, salt water can function as a mechanical exfoliator by removing dead skin cells, leaving the skin smoother and brighter.
Reduces inflammation: Magnesium is one of the minerals in salt water that may have an anti-inflammatory effect. Because of this, Garshick claims that it might be beneficial for some ailments like psoriasis or eczema since it might help lower inflammation. “That said, too much salt water may be drying and exacerbate some conditions, especially in those with sensitive skin,” she states.
Skin-Related Issues
Use salt water sparingly as it’s not ideal for all skin types. Although it’s ideal for people with oily or acne-prone skin, Engelman says, “I don’t recommend it as an alternative to chemical exfoliants since applying salt water can easily dry out and damage your skin due to its abrasiveness.”
Having said that, it may be useful in treating inflammatory diseases (such as psoriasis or eczema) and may help reduce oil and acne on oily or acne-prone skin types if used very carefully and with your dermatologist’s approval. “While it may be tolerable and considered safe in certain skin types, it may be harsh or irritating in certain skin types, especially those with dry or sensitive skin,” Garshick states.
How to Use Salt Water to Wash Your Face
You may easily create a saltwater solution by mixing some table salt with hot water if you want to include saltwater washing in your routine. Additionally, salt water can be found in safer substitutes that you can buy at any beauty supply store, like face toners, body scrubs, bath salts, and masks. These will provide the same advantages as applying salt water directly, but they are probably dermatologist-approved and slightly less harmful to your skin.
Possible Adverse Reactions
Averting salt water is advised by both Engelman and Garshick because of its negative consequences. Your skin barrier may be compromised by it, irritating. “This is because salt water is naturally harsh, which can lead to irritation and potentially worsen skin health conditions such as acne and eczema,” Engelman notes.
While washing your face with salt water safely has its advantages, doing so frequently dries the skin excessively, aggravating existing skin disorders and causing other serious skin problems.
The Last Point to Remember
Overall, even though using salt water may have some positive effects on your skin, it isn’t worth risking your skin to attempt this trend. Saltwater can aggravate pre-existing skin issues and produce extreme irritation and redness if used improperly. Make sure to consult your dermatologist first if you’re still interested in giving it a try.
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