Clay on Wounds and Skin Conditions: What Sources Say
What small human studies, mouse studies and reviews say about clay on wounds, infections and skin conditions, and why dirt in a wound is a tetanus concern.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
The short answer: the sources we read do not show that clay is a safe, proven treatment for wounds or skin disease, and dirt or soil in a wound is a reason to see a clinician. CDC says wounds that are deep or contaminated with dirt carry a higher risk of tetanus. [1] The human evidence on clay and wounds is a small uncontrolled study; the infection findings are in mice. [2][3][4] This guide separates those, and keeps skin use apart from swallowing.
What the question is
Clay has been used on skin for a very long time, and sellers say it "heals", "draws out infection" or "treats eczema". People also ask whether it is safe to put a clay paste on a cut, a rash or a sore. The honest answer depends on the product: a wound product made and tested for medical use is not the same thing as a garden-store, cosmetic or kitchen powder.Claims and what the sources found
| Claim or use | What the best source found | Evidence label | Product, route and who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay helps diabetic foot ulcers close | An observational study of 24 people with diabetic foot ulcers in the Dominican Republic used a clay product called Dermomina as an add-on. By week 20, 92.9% of non-infected ulcers had closed versus 40.0% of infected ones. There was no control group, so the study cannot show the clay caused the healing. Side effects were infrequent, mild and temporary. The authors say controlled trials are needed. [2] | Mixed (no control group) | One named medical wound clay, applied by wound-care units |
| Clay fights wound infection (MRSA) | In mice with MRSA-infected skin wounds, twice-daily wet clay poultices lowered bacteria and inflammation. Illite clays worked best and kaolinite worked least well, with severe dermatitis in that group. [3] | Lab or animal only | Four natural clays and three modified clays, in mice, not people |
| Bentonite prevents skin infection or eases atopic dermatitis | Sodium bentonite bound staphylococci in lab tests and prevented lesions in a mouse pyoderma model. In a mouse atopic dermatitis model, ear swelling fell but skin water loss and clinical scores did not change. The study was funded by a bentonite company. [4] | Lab or animal only | Sodium bentonite gel, in cells and mice |
| Bentonite and montmorillonite speed wound healing or calm inflammation | A 2024 review summarizes lab, animal and preliminary clinical work and says larger randomized trials are needed to establish safety and efficacy. [5] | Promising but limited | Narrative review of bentonite and montmorillonite |
| Calcium montmorillonite for rashes and wounds | A 2025 review says it has a strong safety profile when properly sourced and that pharmaceutical-grade formulations may offer consistent benefits. It describes topical use for acne, rashes and wounds, mostly drawn from the existing literature. [6] | Promising but limited | Calcium montmorillonite; review authors' own conclusion |
| Mud or clay baths (peloids) for muscle and joint pain | A 2026 systematic review of 28 randomized trials in adults with musculoskeletal disorders found reduced pain and better physical function, with no increase in serious adverse events. [7] | Promising but limited | Therapeutic mud applications in spa or clinic settings; not skin wounds, and not home clay |
| Clay "draws out toxins" or "heals" eczema or other skin disease | Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. We did not find a human trial of clay for eczema or psoriasis. | Insufficient evidence | Seller claim |
Limits: the one wound study had 24 people, no control group and unknown funding in the record we read. [2] The mouse studies cannot tell us how clay works on a human wound, and the bentonite one was funded by a bentonite company. [4] The mouse findings also differ by clay type, so a clay that helped in mice may not be what is in a jar at home. [3]
Who should see a clinician first
Anyone with a deep, dirty, bite or puncture wound; a burn; a diabetic foot sore; a wound with spreading redness, pus or fever; a rash that is spreading or weeping; or a child or older adult with any of these. See when to see a clinician instead of trying a remedy.Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Does clay heal wounds?
Not proven. A small study with no control group suggests a medical clay product was used while diabetic ulcers closed, and mouse studies show effects in mice. Reviews say larger human trials are needed. [2][3][5]
Can I put clay on a cut?
We cannot recommend it. CDC says dirt in a wound raises tetanus risk and advises care for deep or contaminated wounds. [1] Clean the wound promptly and ask a clinician if it is deep or dirty. [1]
Does clay treat eczema or psoriasis?
We found no human trial of clay for either. The only eczema-type result we read was in mice, where ear swelling fell but clinical scores did not change. [4]
Do mud baths help with pain?
A 2026 review of randomized trials found less pain in adults with musculoskeletal disorders after therapeutic mud treatment. That is a supervised spa or clinic treatment, not a wound treatment. [7]
Is clay safe for babies or during pregnancy?
The sources we read do not say. Ask a clinician before using clay on a baby, on broken skin or in pregnancy, and call Poison Help if any is swallowed and the person is unwell. [8]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety by group
- Dirt in a wound. CDC says tetanus bacteria live in the environment, usually enter through breaks in the skin, and are more likely to cause trouble in deep wounds or wounds contaminated with dirt. It advises seeing a healthcare provider for puncture or deep wounds and for wounds with dirt or soil in them. [1] Unrefined clay is soil. We did not find a modern case report that links a clay poultice to tetanus in the sources we read, but that does not show it is safe.
- Keep your tetanus shots current. CDC says vaccination is the best protection and that a provider may recommend a booster or tetanus immune globulin after a serious or contaminated wound. [1] Tetanus signs include jaw spasms, stiffness and trouble swallowing, usually 3 to 21 days after exposure. [1]
- Infected-looking wounds. In the diabetic foot study, infected ulcers closed much less often than non-infected ones. [2] Redness that spreads, pus, fever or a wound that is not healing needs a clinician, not a clay paste.
- People with diabetes or poor circulation. The foot study involved supervised wound-care units. [2] The sources we read do not support home clay on foot wounds. Ask your care team.
- Allergy and irritation. The mouse work showed severe dermatitis in the kaolinite group. [3] Patch test first; see Clay face masks: safety and patch testing.
- Swallowing and children. Clay on skin is not clay in the mouth. If someone swallowed a clay or skin product and is unwell, call Poison Help (US 1-800-222-1222) or use the online tool, and call 911 for collapse, seizure, trouble breathing or if the person cannot be awakened. [8] See Poisoning: urgent help.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney disease, medicines. The sources we read do not describe clay on skin for these groups. Ask a clinician.
- Quality and metals. We found no readable measurement of metals in retail clays sold for skin. See Heavy metals in natural ingredients.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About tetanus. Read 2026-10-24.
- Dermomina clay achieves high closure rates in non-infected diabetic foot ulcers. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026;17. PubMed 41757234 (abstract read through Europe PMC). Observational study. Read 2026-10-24.
- Natural and ion-exchanged illite clays reduce bacterial burden and inflammation in cutaneous meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in mice. J Med Microbiol. 2016;65(1):19-27. PubMed 26508716 (abstract read through Europe PMC). Mouse study. Read 2026-10-24.
- Preventive effect of bentonite against pyoderma via direct binding capability of staphylococci. PLoS One. 2026;21(1):e0341148. PubMed 41576001 (abstract read through Europe PMC; funded by a bentonite company). Lab and mouse study. Read 2026-10-24.
- Zafar K, et al. The potential cutaneous benefits of bentonites and montmorillonites. Arch Dermatol Res. 2024;316(10):702. PubMed 39438324 (abstract read through Europe PMC). Review. Read 2026-10-24.
- Ng MK, et al. Human Health Applications of Calcium Montmorillonite Clay: A Systems-Based Review. Cureus. 2025;17(10). PubMed 41306171 (abstract read through Europe PMC). Narrative review. Read 2026-10-24.
- Effectiveness and Safety of Mud Therapy (Pelotherapy) for Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Lifestyle Med. 2026. PubMed 42719543 (abstract read through Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-24.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Poison Control home page. Read 2026-10-24.