I’m struggling to find actual science amidst all the marketing fluff on the internet. Thanks for your help!
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Adding salts and oils to bathwater is largely a legacy of historical customs, particularly from times and places where modern soap wasn’t available. This practice gained traction during the “medieval” era as theories linking disease to bad smells became common, especially across the Silk Road and the Hellenistic East. Various ancient scholars from regions like Egypt, Rome, and China suggested that “coastal salt” was beneficial for skin health, often using it in topical balms. Its transition into bath culture, especially for the wealthy, follows a pattern of somewhat questionable health logic that we still encounter today.
Check out this review concerning bath additives for Atopic Dermatitis. You’ll find better results on Pubmed than on Google. The general agreement is that these additives do help decrease the frequency of doctor visits and the need for prescriptions. Bathing Additives for Atopic Dermatitis - A Systematic Review - PubMed
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I came across a detailed analysis of Epsom salts (it includes various study links and a reading list at the bottom): Epsom salt baths: How does Epsom salt work? Does it work?. The short version is that they aren’t harmful, and while it’s unclear if they provide specific benefits, they might—we just don’t have a definitive answer. They aren’t a “cure-all” because the results would be more obvious, but they certainly won’t hurt you. Edit: Many people are replying that it’s just a placebo. To clarify, the link doesn’t state that, and I haven’t seen studies proving it’s purely psychological. It could be a placebo, or it could be doing something; we simply don’t know yet. Don’t assume that a lack of definitive proof means it does absolutely nothing.
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There is a solid body of ongoing research regarding colloidal oatmeal and skin health, dating back as far as 1955. The FDA even cleared colloidal oats for over-the-counter use in 2003. Colloidal oatmeal: history, chemistry and clinical properties - PubMed. Recent studies from this year show “a significant improvement… in the test group.” Here is a double-blind study on using 1% colloidal oatmeal cream for chronic hand eczema: The Efficacy of Colloidal Oatmeal Cream 1% as Add-on Therapy in the Management of Chronic Irritant Hand Eczema: A Double-Blind Study - PMC. Also, this paper discusses how the anti-inflammatory properties of oats help treat itching from dry skin: Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin - PubMed. There is also research on plant-based milk substitutes and their health effects: Plant-based milk substitutes: Bioactive compounds, conventional and novel processes, bioavailability studies, and health effects - ScienceDirect. I left out WebMD and Healthline links since they aren’t primary scientific sources, though they do cite studies.
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A family friend has eczema on his back and insists that swimming in the ocean is the only thing that really works for him, despite having many creams. I’m convinced salt water helps, but I doubt the specific variety of salt is that important. My understanding is that bacteria trigger eczema flare-ups, so any solution that kills bacteria should be effective. A salt concentration above 4% should do the trick.
Epsom salt consists of magnesium sulphate. I’m not sure how it affects eczema, but regarding muscle pain: if you’re magnesium deficient, your muscles will feel more sore. There isn’t definitive proof yet on whether magnesium can be absorbed through the skin during a soak. So, while Epsom salts might help with soreness, it’s hard to distinguish that from the benefits of the hot water itself. I’m sorry I can’t provide more insight on eczema, as I haven’t heard of using salts for that specifically.
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Each of these salts has a unique mineral profile with different physiological effects. For instance, Epsom salts contain magnesium, which aids in muscle relaxation. When ingested, magnesium can act as a strong laxative, but the Epsom salts sold in stores are generally meant for baths to soothe muscles. These salts differ because they contain various minerals in addition to standard sodium chloride. So yes, there are real differences between them.
According to a Pubmed paper, soaking in Dead Sea salt rich in magnesium can improve skin barrier function, boost hydration, and lower inflammation in dry, atopic skin: Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin - PubMed. Conversely, researchers at the University of Sheffield suggest that calcium and magnesium in hard water can actually cause eczema by damaging the skin barrier due to alkalinity: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/eczema-treatments-research-hardwater-skin-conditions-1.731633. An analysis of Dead Sea salt shows it is roughly 34% Magnesium Chloride, 25% Potassium Chloride, and small amounts of other minerals. It’s worth noting that many products labeled as “Dead Sea salt” are actually just standard table salt (Sodium Chloride), which won’t provide the same benefits as the real mineral-rich version.
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