7 Incredible Benefits Of Dead Sea Salt

Nestled between Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, the Dead Sea is a salt lake more than 15 million years old.

Among the planet’s saltiest bodies of water, the Dead Sea has a salinity of 34.2% – it is ten times as salty as the ocean. Its salinity creates a harsh environment for flora and fauna, earning the name Dead Sea since precious few microorganisms can survive within it.

Mineral Composition of Dead Sea Salt

A place of healing since antiquity, the Dead Sea is site to one of the world’s very first health resorts. Practicing what is now known as thalassotherapy, ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman visitors would bathe in the buoyant waters and rub marine mud all over their bodies to cleanse, soothe, and revitalize the skin.

The therapeutic effects of Dead Sea salt are derived from its supremely rich mineral composition. Though it contains more than 20 elements, these are the most abundant:

Magnesium – Involved in more than 300 essential reactions in your body including muscle movements, DNA repair, energy production, and cell signalling, magnesium is a powerful anti-inflammatory that also fights against depression, improves sleep, and strengthens bones. Dead Sea salt is comprised of between 31% and 35% magnesium chloride.

Potassium – An electrolyte with a positive charge that conducts electricity within the fluids in bodily cells, potassium is vital to hydration, heart rhythm, muscle contractions, and pH balance. It makes up 20% to 28% of Dead Sea salt.

Sodium – Though often vilified because our diets tend to contain excessive amounts of salt, sodium is an essential electrolyte needed for the absorption and transportation of nutrients, fluid balance, blood pressure, and the transmission of nerve signals. In Dead Sea salt, it makes up 3% to 8% of its mineral content.

Calcium – Playing a major role in healthy bones and teeth, calcium is also necessary to circulate the blood, release hormones, regulate body weight, and stabilize enzymes. Dead Sea salt is 0.1% to 0.5% calcium chloride.

Sulfates – Found in mineral springs and volcanic ash, sulfur helps synthesize proteins, supports cartilage and connective tissues, helps the body resist bacteria, and cleanses the body of toxins. It comprises 0.05% to 0.2% of Dead Sea salt.

How Dead Sea Salt Can Be Used for Health & Beauty

For centuries, people have flocked to the Dead Sea to treat a wide array of inflammatory diseases….

1. Dead Sea Salt is Deeply Hydrating

Bathing in a solution of 5% Dead Sea salt improves skin hydration, reduces redness and roughness, and enhances the skin barrier, according to a study published in 2005. Sufferers of atopic dry skin submerged one arm in seawater and the other arm in plain tap water for 15 just minutes. While the salt treated arm showed significant improvements in all areas, the tap water arm showed evidence of further transepidermal water loss.

The anti-inflammatory and skin hydrating effects of Dead Sea salt are due to its high magnesium content. Magnesium salts bind to water, which in turn boosts skin absorption and permeability.

2. Dead Sea Salt Cleanses and Disinfects

Thanks to sulfur’s natural antibacterial properties, Dead Sea salt is wonderful for cleaning the surface of the skin. Because Dead Sea salt contains only small amounts of sulfur salts, it offers a gentle way to reduce oily skin and clear away acne.

3. It is an Excellent Exfoliator

Another way Dead Sea salt helps cleanse the skin is its ability to slough off dead skin cells that can contribute to skin roughness, clogged pores, and blemishes. To make a scrub, combine ½ cup of finely ground Dead Sea salt with ¼ cup of coconut oil.

4. Dead Sea Salt Promotes Youthful Skin

In evaluating the effects of Dead Sea salt on aging skin, researchers found that it reduces skin roughness that contributes to fine lines and deep wrinkles. Compared with placebo, a commercially prepared anti-wrinkle gel, and a 1% Dead Sea salt solution, these ointments were applied twice daily for four weeks. While the placebo and anti-wrinkle gel reduced skin roughness by 10% and 27% respectively, the Dead Sea salt treatment was superior in smoothing skin, reducing deep wrinkling by an average of more than 40%.

5. It Heals Chronic Skin Conditions

The combination of minerals in Dead Sea salt has worked wonders for people who suffer from dry, sensitive, and itchy skin.

As a psoriasis treatment, bathing in Dead Sea salt once per day for 20 minutes over a period of three weeks reduced the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores of patients by a mean percentage of 34.8%. One month after treatment concluded, PASI scores continued to decrease an average of 43.6%.

In the case of atopic dermatitis, 49 eczema sufferers bathed in the Dead Sea; afterwards they would spend some time in the sun – a therapeutic practice called climatotherapy. Using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, patients’ symptoms of dryness, redness, swelling, and flaking had significantly improved. Climatotherapy in the Dead Sea region, with stays lasting more than four weeks, resulted in a clearance of eczema by more than 95%.

6. Dead Sea Salt Calms Rheumatoid Arthritis

Marked by painful swelling of the joints, rheumatoid arthritis may over time lead to bone erosion and deformity. Though there is no cure, Dead Sea salt therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for many of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

In the study, patients bathed in Dead Sea salt daily for 20 minutes for two weeks. Evaluated by rheumatologists and their own self-assessments, patients showed significant improvements in morning stiffness, 15 meter walk time, hand-grip strength, circumference of joints, the number of active joints, and the activities of daily living. The reduction of symptoms was at its greatest after the two week period and the beneficial effects of bathing in Dead Sea salt lasted one month after treatment ended.

7. It Soothes Sore Muscles

Soaking in Dead Sea salt can help relieve muscle cramps and soreness and offers a relaxing way to ease the pain and discomfort of fatigued and tense tissues.

Testing its effects on fibromyalgia – a chronic condition characterized by muscle pain, fatigue, disturbances in sleep, impaired memory, and mood swings – researchers found bathing in the Dead Sea over the course of 10 days improved the severity and frequency of symptoms. Relief from pain, fatigue, stiffness, anxiety, headaches, sleep problems, and joint swelling was immediate and persisted for three months after treatment.

by Lindsay Sheehan
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10 Effective Ways To Moisturize Your Skin Naturally

By Kushneet Kukreja

ISSA Certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition

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Dry skin can make you look dull and old. It is absolutely essential to provide your skin hydration so that it looks healthy. But it is not just the people with dry skin who need to do this. Not many know that even people with normal, combination, and oily skin must also moisturize their skin.

No matter the season, a moisturizer is essential for beautiful skin. Using a moisturizer every day can make your skin glow and provide deep hydration. The sun’s UV rays, along with seasonal changes in weather can cause a lot of damage to the skin, making it very dry. This dryness further leads to itching, dry patches, and many other skin problems. If you want your skin to stay free of these problems, you’ll need to moisturize it daily.

Although there are many moisturizers available in retail shops and online stores, you could do with some ingredients found right at your home. These homemade moisturizers contain fresh nutrients and can provide amazing results. Here they are!

How To Moisturize Skin Naturally At Home

1.   Oils

2.   Honey

3.   Aloe Vera Gel

4.   Milk Or Buttermilk

5.   Avocado

6.   Cocoa Butter

7.   Shea Butter

8.   Mango Butter

9.   Cucumber Juice

10.    Beeswax

Get Soft Skin With These Natural Remedies

1. Moisturize Skin With Oils

You Will Need

Coconut oil OR baby oil OR olive oil OR castor oil OR jojoba oil OR Mineral oil OR sesame oil. You can pick whatever is available at home.

What You Have To Do

1.   Apply the oil all over your body and massage for a minute or two. By massaging, the oil will get quickly absorbed into the skin and not stain your clothes.

2.   You can leave it overnight and take a shower early the next day morning for fresh skin, or use it after taking a shower.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Dry and itchy skin requires deep hydration and what better than natural oils to do the trick? The many oils mentioned above offer excellent soothing effects for all skin types. They are very rich in vitamin E, vitamin A, and fatty acids. They lock in moisture and also supply the skin with essential nutrients for optimum skin health (1). With regular application, you’ll soon notice a smoother and softer skin. 

2. Moisturize Skin With Honey

You Will Need

Organic honey

What You Have To Do

1.   Apply a layer of honey on the affected area, for example, your face or your arms.

2.   Leave the honey on for 15-20 minutes.

3.   Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a week or more often if you have very dry skin.

Why This Works

Honey is one of the best natural moisturizers for skin. It is natural emollient and humectant. It penetrates to the deeper layers of the skin to moisturize it. It also helps in cleaning up your skin pores and restore the dull skin to it natural glow with its antioxidants (2, 3).

3. Aloe Vera Gel

You Will Need

An aloe vera leaf

What You Have To Do

1.   Peel off the outer part of the leaf and remove the inside stem that secretes the gel.

2.   Extract this gel and make sure you mash it nicely and apply it soon as possible.

3.   Allow it to dry for 10-12 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

You can store the remainder of the aloe vera gel in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a few days.

How Often You Should Do This

You can repeat this once in every 2-3 days.

Why This Works

Keep an aloe vera plant on your balcony. It grows very quickly and within no time, you’ll have a home moisturizer at your disposal! Aloe vera gel has plenty of nutrients like vitamin E and vitamin A that are great for the skin. It also contains plant steroids that have anti-inflammatory property (4). This will help to relieve the itching sensation seen with dry skin.

4. Milk Or Buttermilk        

You Will Need

Cold milk or buttermilk

What You Have To Do

1.   Apply it generously on the affected area.

2.   Keep it on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with lukewarm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice a week before taking a shower.

Why This Works

Dry and dull skin can really make you look haggard. But the solution is in your fridge! Both milk and buttermilk are effective ways to hydrate all skin types. They are quickly absorbed into the skin pores. Additionally, they can help in keeping away wrinkles as well (5, 6).

Caution

If you are allergic to milk and other dairy products, do not use this remedy.

5. Avocado As Moisturizer

You Will Need

An avocado

What You Have To Do

1.   Cut open the avocado and remove the pulp present inside.

2.   Gently mash this so that no lumps remain.

3.   Apply this on the affected area and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

4.   Rinse with warm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a week.

Why This Works

All your dry and flaky patches will soon be gone with this home remedy. Avocado contains plenty of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals such as fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These will nourish your skin and also protect it from free radical damage. Vitamin C aids in collagen and elastin synthesis leaving your skin firm and young-looking (7).

6. Cocoa Butter

You Will Need

Cocoa butter

What You Have To Do

1.   Shave the cocoa butter and rub into the skin gently. The butter will melt with the friction and spread over your skin.

2.   Leave it on.

If you have difficulty melting the butter, place a few pieces in a double-boiler for a couple of minutes and then apply on the skin.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this to moisturize your skin twice a week.

Why This Works

This natural butter extracted from cocoa seeds increases the skin’s elasticity and moisturizes it. This is due to the saturated fats present in it (8). The polyphenols in cocoa possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They help in reversing the damage caused by UV exposure and have anti-aging effects (9).

7. Shea Butter

You Will Need

Organic shea butter

What You Have To Do

1.   Take a small dollop of shea butter and rub it in between your hands to melt it.

2.   Apply this all over the affected area.

3.   Massage for a few minutes so that it is absorbed into the skin.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this every night, before going to bed.

Why This Works

Shea butter is an excellent moisturizer for the skin as it is rich in saturated fatty acids. It also has healing and anti-aging properties (10).

8. Mango Butter

You Will Need

Mango butter

What You Have To Do

1.   Apply the butter all over the skin and massage it in.

2.   Leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this daily or every alternate day.

Why This Works

Rich in antioxidants and compounds that moisturize the skin, mango butter is fast becoming the next big thing in the skin care industry (11). It is easily absorbed into the skin and does not leave a greasy residue.

9. Cucumber Juice

You Will Need

·         1 large cucumber

·         8 oz. paraffin wax

·         2 oz. carrier oil (almond oil works best)

What You Have To Do

1.   Peel the cucumber and cut in half along the length.

2.   Remove the seeds and blend the remaining cucumber pieces into a puree.

3.   Heat the paraffin wax in the microwave for 90 seconds to melt it.

4.   To this, add the carrier oil and cucumber puree. Mix thoroughly.

5.   Use this to massage the skin and moisturize it.

Store the rest of the mixture in an air-tight container.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this every night.

Why This Works

Cucumber is majorly water, and when used in a skin moisturizer, it hydrates the skin. It is a soothing agent that replenishes and rejuvenates the skin.

10. Beeswax

You Will Need

·         1 cup olive oil

·         1/2 cup coconut oil

·         2 oz. Beeswax

·         5-6 capsules Vitamin E oil

What You Have To Do

1.   In a glass container, put both the oils and the beeswax.

2.   Now, heat all these ingredients in a double boiler over medium heat. Mix every few minutes to get an even mixture.

3.   Once all the beeswax has melted and mixed well with the oil, take the container out and let it cool.

4.   Before the mixture solidifies, add the vitamin E oil from the capsules and stir well.

5.   Apply this beeswax lotion on the skin and massage well.

6.   Leave it on overnight.

Close the glass container with a tight lid and store for future use.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this every alternate day.

Why This Works

Beeswax softens the skin and also improves its elasticity. Coconut oil and olive oil are excellent moisturizers as well. They also possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

These cost effective, easy to make moisturizers can keep you looking beautiful and young. Why spend a fortune on chemical laden products when you can get the same benefits at a much lesser cost!

Here are some tips you should keep in mind when moisturizing your skin and taking care of it.

Tips For Moisturizing Your Skin

·         Use a gentle moisturizer on a daily basis. You can use richer moisturizers during the winter months to counteract the dryness caused by the cold temperatures.

·         While taking a shower or washing your face, ensure that the water is lukewarm and not hot. Hot water can sap moisture from the skin.

·         Do not use harsh soaps or body washes as these can make your skin dry and dull.

·         Use a moisturizer that is universal for all skin types or is for your specific skin type.

·         Every part of your body is important. You need to use both facial and body moisturizers.

·         Use a moisturizer with SPF in it or a sunblock on top of the moisturizer to protect your skin from UV damage.

·         Knowing what suits your skin and what doesn’t is essential. Conduct a patch test if you are unsure about any ingredient in the home remedies.

Risks Of Moisturizers

It is important to know if the moisturizer you are planning to use contains ingredients that are safe to use. When purchasing a product from the market, read the label carefully to know exactly what it contains. When it comes to the home remedies, the ingredients listed above are all safe to use and suit most skin types. As mentioned above, a patch test will remove any doubts from your mind about experimenting with a new ingredient.

Say goodbye to dull, dry, and unhealthy skin with these remedies and tips. Including them in your skin care routine is vital for a soft and glowing skin. It is never too late to start!

Now that you know how to moisturize skin naturally at home, what are you waiting for? Have you used any of these home remedies for moisturizing your skin? Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

 January 8, 2018

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