Bathing in the sea can be very useful for some skin diseases, although not always or in any condition
Beach holidays become the drug par excellence during the summer holidays. Most people feel better when they are close to the sea: more lively, less stressed … These benefits are not the only ones. A swim in the sea can improve skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. The secret is largely the composition of the water, but not only for its content in sea salt, there are other elements that complete the chemical structure of the sea water and that provide an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic effect.
And these positive effects have not remained only in the sea, more and more swimming pools change their fresh water for a salty formula. Salt water from the sea has many components that influence the skin in one way or another. In general, they are positive effects such as anti-inflammatories or antibiotics.
There are skin diseases, such as psoriasis, eczema typical of atopic dermatitis or acne that can improve in the summer due to the anti-inflammatory effect of the combination of environmental humidity, sea water and controlled solar exposure. But we must keep in mind that this improvement does not occur in all cases and that they usually get worse when the patient leaves the coastal climate and returns to the dry climate.
In addition to salt, sea water has other minerals and trace elements such as zinc, magnesium, potassium or iodine which have an antibiotic effect. It works very well to improve the healing of small wounds, chafings and cuts. Instead, if the wounds are large or if they are burns or ulcers, it is best to avoid sea water. If there is an infection going on in some of these skin lesions, seawater can be counterproductive, as it also contains bacteria that can aggravate it.
Aesthetically, the effect of seawater on the skin is also remarkable. Salt has an exfoliating effect that leaves the skin smoother and renewed because it helps remove dead cells from its surface. However, it is not recommended to apply salt directly for this purpose, as it is too irritating for the skin. There are specific products to exfoliate the body that are much more respectful.
But there is a negative aspect. Sea saltpeter can dehydrate and dry the skin, so it is very important to clean it after a bath and nourish the skin deeply after finishing the day on the beach. It is recommended to rinse with fresh water after each swim in the sea to avoid dry skin and the tightness caused by saltpeter when the salt water dries on the skin.
At the end of the day, deep hydration becomes essential after a shower.