Salts & Minerals · Bath salt
Dead Sea salt
Magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and potassium chloride (mixed salts) · also called Dead Sea bath salt, Dead Sea minerals, Dead Sea salts
Dead Sea salt is a mineral bath salt from the Dead Sea. Sources describe the lake water as very rich in magnesium, with sodium, potassium, calcium and bromide as well. The research is mostly small. One forearm study found better skin hydration in dry, eczema-prone skin, psoriasis trials give mixed results, and no source shows magnesium is absorbed through the skin from a bath. The key caution: never swallow it, because swallowed salt can poison, especially children.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Dead Sea salt
Dead Sea salt is a mineral bath salt. Sources describe Dead Sea water as rich in magnesium, with sodium, potassium, calcium and bromide. The research is small: one forearm study found better skin hydration in dry, eczema-prone skin, psoriasis trials give mixed results, and the joint evidence is one tiny 1995 trial plus travel-treatment reviews. No source shows magnesium is absorbed through the skin from a bath. Swallowing salt can poison, especially children.
What it is
Dead Sea salt is sold as bath salt made from the Dead Sea. We found no standard definition or composition for bath-salt products. The only figures we read are for the lake water: a salinity of 340 g/L, with magnesium (46 g/L) the main positive ion, then sodium (36.5), calcium (17) and potassium (7.8), and chloride (225) the main negative ion, then bromide (5.6). A product may differ from the lake water.
The forearm study used one branded salt rich in magnesium chloride from deep layers of the Dead Sea.
How it is used
It is added to baths for soaking, and used in clinic salt baths followed by UVB light for psoriasis. A 2012 review says the Dead Sea has been known from biblical times for its healing properties. Scrubs and other products are sold but were not covered by the sources read here.
What the research shows
For dry, eczema-prone skin there is one small forearm study (Proksch 2005) with better hydration, roughness and redness, and better barrier function in those who started with high water loss. Its number of volunteers and funding are not stated in the abstract. Reviews of bath additives and seawater therapy are positive but cautious, and the seawater review mixes sun, climate, water and light.
For psoriasis, a Cochrane review of 8 trials found low-certainty benefit of salt baths plus UVB over UVB alone (PASI-75 risk ratio 1.71, 278 people). The two key trials were by one group, assessors were not blinded, and spa or salt companies sponsored three of eight trials. A 60-person trial (Dawe 2005) of Dead Sea salt soaks before narrowband UVB found no clinically important extra benefit.
For joints, one double-blind trial of 26 people (1995) found both Dead Sea salt and plain sodium chloride baths helped, with little difference. A 2026 review of travel treatments found short-term gains, mainly in osteoarthritis, with inconclusive pooled results.
On magnesium, a 2017 review calls skin absorption from baths scientifically unsupported, and a 2026 pig skin study found very little crossed intact skin. We found no human study that measured magnesium after a Dead Sea salt bath.
Dead Sea salt, Epsom salt and mud
Dead Sea salt is a mixture of chlorides. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate, and the 2026 skin study tested magnesium sulfate, so its result is not directly about Dead Sea salt. Dead Sea mud is a different product. Studies of 'Dead Sea treatment' often include sun, climate and mud, so they do not test bath salt on its own.
Health-body statements
We did not read any regulator page for bath products, so we state no rule. The National Capital Poison Center runs the Poison Help line in the US (1-800-222-1222). These are not instructions for any one person; ask a doctor or pharmacist.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Used as a bath salt and for soaking; the Dead Sea has been known from biblical times for its healing properties (Katz 2012).
- Used in clinic salt baths followed by UVB light for psoriasis (Cochrane 2020).
- Sold as a bath or scrub additive; scrubs and other products were not covered by the sources read.
Studied for research
- Dry, eczema-prone (atopic) skin hydration and barrier, low
- Atopic dermatitis with seawater or Dead Sea treatment, low
- Psoriasis (salt bath plus UVB light in clinics), mixed
- Knee osteoarthritis baths (one tiny 1995 trial), very low
- Joint pain with Dead Sea or marine stays, low
- Magnesium absorbed through the skin, evidence against
- Detox claims, insufficient
Main compounds
- Magnesium chloride (Dead Sea water has magnesium at 46 g/L)
- Sodium chloride and potassium chloride
- Calcium, bromide and other minerals in the lake water
- Composition of bath-salt products is not standardised in the sources read
Common forms
- Bath salt crystals added to a bath
- Salt solution used in studies (for example 5% on a forearm, in a lab setting)
- Clinic salt baths followed by UVB light
- Scrubs and other products are sold but were not covered by the sources read
Research links: Dead Sea salt forearm study, atopic dry skin (abstract) · Cochrane review: salt baths plus UVB for psoriasis (abstract) · Dead Sea salt and narrowband UVB trial (abstract) · Dead Sea treatments systematic review (abstract) · Transdermal magnesium review (abstract) · Magnesium and pig skin lab study (abstract) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Dead Sea salt (a mixed mineral salt: magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and potassium chloride, with other minerals)
- Synonyms
- Dead Sea bath salt; Dead Sea minerals; Dead Sea salts
- Common names
- Dead Sea salt (English); Dead Sea bath salt (English); Dead Sea minerals (English)
- Family or group
- Salt (mixed chloride salts); a bath salt
- Native range
- The Dead Sea (lake water and deposits); products may be made from lake water, deep layers or evaporation (the forearm study names a salt 'from deep layers of the Dead Sea').
- Habitat
- A very salty lake; the Dead Sea has a salinity of 340 g/L (Khlaifat 2020).
- Harvest and processing
- Not described in the sources read.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Epsom salt; Note: Magnesium sulfate, a different compound. The 2026 skin-permeation study used magnesium sulfate.; Name: Magnesium chloride flakes; Note: Mostly one compound, magnesium chloride; Dead Sea salt is a mixture.; Name: Table salt or sea salt; Note: Mostly sodium chloride; Dead Sea water has far more magnesium than sodium (Khlaifat 2020).; Name: Dead Sea mud; Note: A different product (mud) from the same area.
Photographs
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Long tradition | The Dead Sea has been known from biblical times for its healing properties, according to the 2012 review that asks how well that reputation holds up. | p22503590 |
| Today's market | Sold as bath salt and used in clinic salt baths with UVB light for psoriasis and as a soak in dermatology research. The history of the bath-salt trade was not found in the sources read and is NOT verified here. | p32368795 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium chloride PubChem 5360315 | inorganic salt | Magnesium is 46 g/L of Dead Sea water, the main positive ion (Khlaifat 2020); the share in a bath salt product is not given in the sources read. | The forearm study's authors suggest the high magnesium content explains the skin effects. In a lab study, little magnesium (as sulfate) crossed intact pig skin. 8 13 2 | Laboratory |
| Sodium chloride PubChem 5234 | inorganic salt | Sodium is 36.5 g/L of Dead Sea water (Khlaifat 2020). | Ordinary salt. Swallowed in large amounts it is toxic. 8 5 | Product analysis |
| Potassium chloride PubChem 4873 | inorganic salt | Potassium is 7.8 g/L of Dead Sea water (Khlaifat 2020). | Not tested separately in the sources read. 8 | Product analysis |
| Bromide PubChem 259 | inorganic ion | Bromide is 5.6 g/L of Dead Sea water (Khlaifat 2020). Whether bath salt products contain it was not found. | No source we read tests bromide from a bath. Not studied. 8 | Product analysis |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin barrier and water binding | Not applicable | The authors of the forearm study say magnesium salts are known to bind water, influence skin cell growth and ripening, and enhance permeability barrier repair, and suggest this explains their findings. This was not tested directly in the study. 13 | Hypothesis |
| Magnesium crossing the skin | Not applicable | Lab study on pig skin: little magnesium (as sulfate) crossed intact skin; much more crossed damaged skin. A 2017 review calls transdermal magnesium scientifically unsupported. 2 4 | Laboratory |
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Dead Sea salt is a mixture, not one compound. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. Magnesium chloride flakes are mostly one compound. Studies of 'Dead Sea' treatment often include sun, climate and mud, so they cannot be credited to the salt. The only forearm study used one branded salt rich in magnesium chloride.
Nutritional composition
Dead Sea bath salt is not a food or a nutrient source. No source shows that bathing raises body magnesium, and the 2017 review calls that claim unsupported.
1 mixed findings3 low certainty1 very low certainty1 not enough evidence1 evidence against
What was looked at
The 7 benefits and uses checked for Dead Sea salt, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Soaking in Dead Sea salt for dry, eczema-prone (atopic) skinLow certainty
- Dead Sea and seawater treatments for atopic dermatitis (travel and spa therapy)Low certainty
- Salt baths followed by UVB light for plaque psoriasis (clinic treatment)Mixed findings
- Dead Sea bath salts for knee osteoarthritisVery low certainty
- Dead Sea and seawater stays for joint and rheumatic conditions (travel treatment)Low certainty
- The claim that magnesium from the bath is absorbed through the skinEvidence against
- 'Detox' and 'draws out toxins' claimsNot enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
Water loss through the skin (TEWL)Skin surface hydrationSkin roughness and rednessPASI-75 (psoriasis improvement)Knee osteoarthritis severity indexMagnesium crossing the skin (lab)
What is Dead Sea salt good for?
The uses and claims people ask about, and how strong the human evidence is for each. The evidence is small. Read it together with the safety section.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Soaking in Dead Sea salt for dry, eczema-prone (atopic) skin
Low certaintyOne small controlled study had people with atopic dry skin soak one forearm in a Dead Sea salt solution and the other in tap water. The salt arm did better on skin hydration, roughness and redness, and on skin barrier function in people who started with high water loss. Two reviews call bath salt a promising add-on, with efficacy and safety not fully understood. This is a short soak of the forearm, not a whole-body bath.
3 studiesThe study used a 5% solution of one branded Dead Sea salt rich in mag…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One within-person controlled study (Proksch 2005) with an unstated number of volunteers. A 2019 review of bath additives and a 2024 review in children describe Dead Sea or bath salt as a possible add-on for atopic dermatitis.
Results
In the 2005 study, the salt forearm had significantly better barrier function than the tap-water forearm in the subgroup with raised water loss at the start. Hydration rose in every subgroup, and roughness and redness fell significantly. The abstract gives no numbers.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstract.
Why this rating
One small, short study of one branded product on the forearm, with funding and number of volunteers not stated, plus reviews that give no numbers. The reviews' own wording is cautious.
Form and dose studied
The study used a 5% solution of one branded Dead Sea salt rich in magnesium chloride, for one 15-minute forearm soak. This is a description of the study, not advice.
Who was studied
Adults with atopic dry skin (age and number not stated in the abstract). The 2024 review covers children, with no numbers in the abstract.
Limits
Forearm only, not active flares, one product, no stated sample size. The salt arm was compared with tap water, so we cannot tell whether any other warm soak would do the same.
Why researchers looked
In atopic skin the outer layer lets water escape and is easily irritated. Researchers wanted to know whether a magnesium-rich bath could help.
Traditional use
A 2012 review says the Dead Sea has been known from biblical times for its healing properties (Katz 2012). No source we read links traditional use to a specific skin condition.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
The authors of the forearm study suggest the effect is most likely related to the high magnesium content, and say magnesium salts are known to bind water, influence skin cell growth and ripening, and enhance barrier repair. This is their explanation, not something the study proved.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
The authors say the soak was well tolerated. Irritation and itching have been reported with salt baths in other studies (see the Safety tab). Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using salt on cracked or inflamed skin.
Dead Sea and seawater treatments for atopic dermatitis (travel and spa therapy)
Low certaintyA 2025 review of 10 studies found that seawater, Dead Sea climate and mineral bath treatments lowered atopic dermatitis severity scores. These treatments combine sun, climate, mineral water and sometimes light therapy, so the result cannot be credited to Dead Sea salt bought for a home bath.
2 studiesTreatments were spa and climate programmes, thermal waters and creams…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2025 systematic review of 10 randomised and observational studies (Alshalhoob 2025).
Results
Mean SCORAD (a severity score) improvements ranged from 26% to 55% in the treatment groups. Dead Sea climatotherapy and balneophototherapy (mineral baths with UV light) consistently did better than comparators. Adverse events were minimal and mild.
Effect sizes as reported
26% to 55% improvement in severity score in treatment groups; comparisons vary.
Why this rating
Mixed treatments and mixed study designs, no registered protocol, and the review does not separate the salt from the climate, light or other water.
Form and dose studied
Treatments were spa and climate programmes, thermal waters and creams, not a single bath salt.
Who was studied
People with atopic dermatitis (ages not stated in the abstract).
Limits
Cannot be credited to salt alone. Larger trials and standard protocols are called for by the authors.
Why researchers looked
Atopic dermatitis is a long-term itchy skin disease. People look for treatments that avoid or reduce medicines.
Traditional use
Spa and climate treatment at the Dead Sea is long established (Katz 2012).
Proposed mechanism Narrative review
The review lists better skin hydration, less water loss and fewer Staphylococcus aureus bacteria as qualitative findings. It does not say which part of the treatment caused them.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Mild adverse events only, according to the review. Sun and UV exposure is part of these treatments and carries its own risks.
Salt baths followed by UVB light for plaque psoriasis (clinic treatment)
Mixed findingsA Cochrane review found that salt water baths before UVB light may improve plaque psoriasis more than UVB alone, but the evidence is low certainty. A later 60-person trial of Dead Sea salt soaks before narrowband UVB found no clinically important extra benefit. Both are clinic treatments with light, not home baths.
2 studiesBaths with salt in a clinic or spa followed by artificial UVB light. …
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
The Cochrane review (8 randomised trials; 2020) and the Dawe 2005 randomised trial (60 people).
Results
Cochrane: salt bath plus UVB versus UVB alone, PASI-75 (a 75% or greater improvement) risk ratio 1.71 (95% CI 1.24 to 2.35) in two trials by the same group, 278 people, low certainty, assessed at 6 to 8 weeks. Dawe 2005: the average severity over treatment was not detectably lower with Dead Sea salt soaks plus narrowband UVB than with narrowband UVB alone (P = 0.099). The score fell slightly more start to end with the soaks (P = 0.019). No difference in time to relapse.
Effect sizes as reported
RR 1.71 for PASI-75 in the Cochrane pooled result (low certainty); no clinically important gain in Dawe 2005.
Why this rating
The Cochrane review rates its positive result low certainty, with high risk of bias in seven of eight trials and non-blinded assessors in the two key trials. The one trial that specifically tested Dead Sea salt found no clinically important gain.
Form and dose studied
Baths with salt in a clinic or spa followed by artificial UVB light. The Dead Sea salt trial used pre-treatment soaks before narrowband UVB.
Who was studied
Adults with chronic plaque psoriasis (Cochrane); 60 people in Dawe 2005.
Limits
Three of eight Cochrane trials were sponsored by spa or salt companies and a spa association funded one of the two key trials. The review does not say all trials used Dead Sea salt. Light treatment is the main treatment; it is not shown that a bath of salt alone helps psoriasis.
Why researchers looked
Psoriasis is a long-term inflammatory skin disease. Salt bath plus light is used in some European clinics and spas.
Traditional use
Dead Sea treatment for psoriasis is a long-standing practice according to a 2012 review (Katz 2012).
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not established. The Cochrane review does not claim a mechanism.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Skin irritation was reported in one study and one person had severe itch right after a soak (Cochrane). UV light carries its own skin risks and is given under medical supervision.
Dead Sea bath salts for knee osteoarthritis
Very low certaintyA small, old double-blind trial of 26 people compared baths with Dead Sea bath salts and baths with plain sodium chloride for knee osteoarthritis. Both groups improved on the severity index. Only the Dead Sea salt group rated itself better, and there was no difference in other measures. This does not show the salt itself did the work.
2 studiesDaily 20-minute baths of Dead Sea bath salts at 34 to 35 C for 2 week…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One randomised double-blind trial (Sukenik 1995, 26 people, Hebrew journal with English abstract) and a narrative review of Dead Sea treatments (Katz 2012).
Results
Both groups improved on the osteoarthritis severity index after 2 weeks (p < 0.01). One month later the Dead Sea salt group remained at p < 0.01 and the sodium chloride group at p < 0.05. Patient assessment of improvement was significant only in the Dead Sea salt group at the end of treatment. No statistical improvement in either group on the other measures (movement, swelling, fluid, crepitus).
Effect sizes as reported
Not given as effect sizes in the abstract.
Why this rating
26 people, 2 weeks, a 1995 trial with no stated funding, no direct test between groups reported in the abstract, and improvement in both arms.
Form and dose studied
Daily 20-minute baths of Dead Sea bath salts at 34 to 35 C for 2 weeks, versus sodium chloride baths. This is a description of the trial, not advice.
Who was studied
26 adults with knee osteoarthritis.
Limits
Tiny and old. Warm water itself may have helped, since both groups improved.
Why researchers looked
Warm mineral baths are a long-used comfort for stiff joints, and researchers asked whether the Dead Sea salt adds anything.
Traditional use
A 2012 review says Dead Sea water baths and mud are long-used for joint disease (Katz 2012).
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
No mechanism was tested in the abstract.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No adverse events are listed in the abstract.
Dead Sea and seawater stays for joint and rheumatic conditions (travel treatment)
Low certaintyA 2026 review of 9 studies (465 people) found short-term improvements in pain, function and quality of life after climatotherapy at marine or Dead Sea sites, mainly in osteoarthritis. The pooled result for pain was inconclusive. These stays combine sun, sea, mud and exercise, so they do not test bath salt.
2 studiesSpa and climate programmes at marine or Dead Sea sites.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2026 systematic review (Müller 2026) and a 2012 narrative review (Katz 2012).
Results
Interventions consistently gave short-term improvements. Pooling was only possible for pain (2 studies) and was inconclusive. By condition, osteoarthritis showed a large, significant effect and fibromyalgia a smaller, non-significant one. No serious adverse events were reported, though safety was inconsistently assessed.
Effect sizes as reported
Large in osteoarthritis (2-study analysis), smaller and non-significant in fibromyalgia, pooled pain inconclusive.
Why this rating
Few trials, uneven quality, and the review cannot credit any gain to salt.
Form and dose studied
Spa and climate programmes at marine or Dead Sea sites.
Who was studied
465 people in 9 studies with joint or rheumatic disease.
Limits
Not a test of bath salt at home. Short term. The authors call for rigorous multicentre trials.
Why researchers looked
People with arthritis and fibromyalgia travel to the Dead Sea and the sea for relief.
Traditional use
Long-used spa treatment (Katz 2012).
Proposed mechanism Narrative review
Not established. The review does not separate sun, climate, salt water, mud and exercise.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No serious adverse events reported; safety was inconsistently assessed.
The claim that magnesium from the bath is absorbed through the skin
Evidence againstA 2017 review calls the idea of magnesium taken up through the skin from sprays, flakes and salt baths scientifically unsupported. In a 2026 lab study on pig skin, very little magnesium crossed intact skin, and far more crossed damaged skin. That study used magnesium sulfate, not Dead Sea salt. We found no human study that measured magnesium levels after a Dead Sea salt bath.
2 studiesThe lab study used a saturated magnesium sulfate solution. No amounts…
Studies, doses and limits
Results
Pig skin, intact: 8.3 plus or minus 3.4 micrograms per square centimetre after 24 hours with magnesium sulfate versus 3.9 plus or minus 0.8 in controls, no significant difference. Tape-stripped (damaged) skin: several orders of magnitude more, with large differences between samples.
Effect sizes as reported
No significant difference on intact skin in the lab.
Why this rating
A review and a lab study point the same way for the claim. This is evidence the claim is not supported, not a trial of Dead Sea salt in people.
Form and dose studied
The lab study used a saturated magnesium sulfate solution. No amounts are advised.
Who was studied
Pig skin in the lab; review of human literature.
Limits
The lab study used magnesium sulfate, not magnesium chloride or Dead Sea salt, and not living people. The review abstract was only partly available.
Why researchers looked
Sellers say a magnesium-rich bath raises the body's magnesium. Researchers tested whether magnesium can cross the skin.
Traditional use
Not covered in the sources read.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory
In the pig skin lab study, the outer skin layer strongly limited magnesium crossing. The authors say damaged skin lets much more through.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Because far more magnesium crossed damaged skin in the lab, ask a doctor or pharmacist before soaking broken or inflamed skin. Whether this matters in people has not been shown.
'Detox' and 'draws out toxins' claims
Not enough evidenceWe found no study of Dead Sea salt baths for detox, and no source that defines or measures a toxin leaving the body through a bath. A 2025 review of complementary skin treatments in general warns that most results were not significant or came from weak studies.
1 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
Results
No results.
Why this rating
No human research found.
Limits
We did not search non-medical sources for the claim.
Why researchers looked
Sellers market bath salts as drawing out toxins.
Traditional use
Not covered in the sources read.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
No mechanism is described in any source we read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No benefit shown, so no reason to take risks to try it.
Connections to the rest of health
How Dead Sea salt connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Skin | Low certainty | Soaking in Dead Sea salt for dry, eczema-prone (atopic) skin: One small controlled study had people with atopic dry skin soak one forearm in a Dead Sea salt solution and the other in tap water. The salt arm did better on skin hydration, roughness and redness, and on skin barrier function in people who started with high water loss. Two reviews call bath salt a promising add-on, with efficacy and safety not fully understood. This is a short soak of the forearm, not a whole-body bath. Dead Sea and seawater treatments for atopic dermatitis (travel and spa therapy): A 2025 review of 10 studies found that seawater, Dead Sea climate and mineral bath treatments lowered atopic dermatitis severity scores. These treatments combine sun, climate, mineral water and sometimes light therapy, so the result cannot be credited to Dead Sea salt bought for a home bath. | 13 9 11 1 7 12 3 | |
| Joint Support | Very low certainty | Dead Sea bath salts for knee osteoarthritis: A small, old double-blind trial of 26 people compared baths with Dead Sea bath salts and baths with plain sodium chloride for knee osteoarthritis. Both groups improved on the severity index. Only the Dead Sea salt group rated itself better, and there was no difference in other measures. This does not show the salt itself did the work. Dead Sea and seawater stays for joint and rheumatic conditions (travel treatment): A 2026 review of 9 studies (465 people) found short-term improvements in pain, function and quality of life after climatotherapy at marine or Dead Sea sites, mainly in osteoarthritis. The pooled result for pain was inconclusive. These stays combine sun, sea, mud and exercise, so they do not test bath salt. | 14 7 10 | |
| Detoxification Support | Not enough evidence | 'Detox' and 'draws out toxins' claims: We found no study of Dead Sea salt baths for detox, and no source that defines or measures a toxin leaving the body through a bath. A 2025 review of complementary skin treatments in general warns that most results were not significant or came from weak studies. | 15 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Traditional use | Low certainty | One small forearm study found better hydration, roughness and redness in atopic dry skin; reviews call it a possible add-on. Preparation or compound: Dead Sea salt bath |
13 9 11 |
| Integumentary System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Soaking in Dead Sea salt for dry, eczema-prone (atopic) skin Studied for: Dead Sea and seawater treatments for atopic dermatitis (travel and spa therapy) | 13 9 11 1 7 12 3 |
| Skin Hair Beauty | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Soaking in Dead Sea salt for dry, eczema-prone (atopic) skin | 13 9 11 |
| Musculoskeletal System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Dead Sea bath salts for knee osteoarthritis Studied for: Dead Sea and seawater stays for joint and rheumatic conditions (travel treatment) | 14 7 10 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psoriasis | Traditional use | Mixed findings | Cochrane: may improve psoriasis versus UVB alone, low certainty; the Dead Sea salt trial found no clinically important gain. Preparation or compound: Salt bath plus UVB light (clinic) |
12 3 |
| Atopic dermatitis | Traditional use | Low certainty | A 2025 review of 10 studies reported lower severity scores; the treatments combine climate, water and light. Preparation or compound: Dead Sea or seawater therapy |
1 |
| High blood sodium (salt poisoning) | Adverse effect or risk | Low certainty | Case reports of severe poisoning from swallowing large amounts of salt. Preparation or compound: Swallowed salt |
6 5 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water loss through the skin (TEWL) | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 13 |
| Skin surface hydration | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 13 1 |
| Skin roughness and redness | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 13 |
| PASI-75 (psoriasis improvement) | Biological association | Mixed findings | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 12 3 |
| Knee osteoarthritis severity index | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 14 |
| Magnesium crossing the skin (lab) | Biological association | Evidence against | Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 2 |
K. Biological pathways
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin barrier and water loss | Preliminary mechanism | Hypothesis | Magnesium is proposed by the authors of one study to help skin hold water and repair its barrier. Not tested directly. | 13 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium chloride | Biological association | Laboratory | The forearm study's authors suggest the high magnesium content explains the skin effects. In a lab study, little magnesium (as sulfate) crossed intact pig skin. | 8 13 2 |
| Sodium chloride | Biological association | Product analysis | Ordinary salt. Swallowed in large amounts it is toxic. | 8 5 |
| Potassium chloride | Biological association | Product analysis | Not tested separately in the sources read. | 8 |
| Bromide | Biological association | Product analysis | No source we read tests bromide from a bath. Not studied. | 8 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what changed in 6 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Dead Sea salt. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed and Europe PMC for Dead Sea salt, balneotherapy, salt baths and transdermal magnesium, read the abstracts of about 15 papers, the full text of one water analysis, and the Poison Help page. We checked PubChem for the chemical names. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading. Climate and spa programmes are kept separate from bath salt. Where the numbers are not in an abstract we say so. No study is cited that we could not verify.
Study library: every study we checked 16
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alshalhoob 2025 Efficacy and Safety of Seawater Therapy Versus Non-pharmacological Interventions for Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review Cureus · PMID 41311774 · DOI |
Systematic review |
10 studies (randomised trials and observational studies) of seawater or marine-mineral treatments in atopic dermatitis | n/a |
Mean SCORAD improvements ranged from 26% to 55% in the treatment groups. Dead Sea climatotherapy and balneophototherapy (mineral baths with UV light) consistently did better than comparators in lowering severity scores. Qualitative findings included better skin hydration and less water loss through the skin, and fewer Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Adverse events were minimal and mild. The authors call the effect moderate. Moderate effect reported across mixed seawater, Dead Sea climate and light treatments Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Atopic dermatitis severity (SCORAD), skin barrier measures, skin bacteria, adverse events Limitations: Mixed treatments (thermal water, Dead Sea climate, bath plus light, creams) so the result cannot be credited to Dead Sea bath salt. No protocol was registered. Study designs and quality varied. Funding and conflicts: The authors report no funding and no conflicts. Read: abstract |
| Camili 2026 Does magnesium permeate the skin? An ex vivo investigation of magnesium ion delivery through intact and barrier-disrupted skin European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics · PMID 42372834 · DOI |
Lab study pig skin (ex vivo) |
Pig skin in a laboratory diffusion cell, intact and with the outer layer removed by tape stripping | Saturated magnesium sulfate solution 24 hours · vs Control without magnesium; intact versus tape-stripped skin |
Minimal magnesium crossed intact skin, with no significant difference between magnesium-treated and control samples (8.3 plus or minus 3.4 micrograms per square centimetre treated versus 3.9 plus or minus 0.8 control). When the skin barrier was damaged by tape stripping, magnesium crossing rose by several orders of magnitude, with large differences between samples. The authors conclude that magnesium crossing is strongly limited by the outer skin layer and that delivery from simple watery solutions is unlikely under normal conditions, but may be much higher in damaged skin. Little magnesium crosses intact skin; far more crosses damaged skin (pig skin, lab) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Magnesium measured on the far side of the skin after 24 hours Limitations: Pig skin in a lab, not people. The solution was magnesium sulfate (as in Epsom salt), not Dead Sea salt or magnesium chloride. No bath, no blood magnesium. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
| Dawe 2005 A randomized controlled comparison of the efficacy of Dead Sea salt balneophototherapy vs. narrowband ultraviolet B monotherapy for chronic plaque psoriasis British Journal of Dermatology · PMID 16120152 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
60 60 people with chronic plaque psoriasis; salt soaks randomly given to one side (right or left limb) before light treatment |
Dead Sea salt solution soak before narrowband UVB light Treatment course, followed up to 1 year · vs Narrowband UVB light alone (other limb) |
The average severity over the treatment course was not detectably lower with Dead Sea salt soaks plus light than with light alone (P = 0.099). The score fell slightly more from start to end with the soaks (P = 0.019). There was no detectable difference in time to relapse. The authors concluded the soaks did not give a clinically important improvement in clearance. No clinically important extra benefit from adding Dead Sea salt soaks to narrowband UVB Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Psoriasis severity score (scaling, redness, thickness) by a blinded observer, weekly, then every 8 weeks for up to 1 year Limitations: Only 60 people, one population, soaks given before narrowband UVB light in a clinic. Not a home bath. Does not tell us about soaking alone. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract (the record lists non-US government research support). Read: abstract |
| Gröber 2017 Myth or Reality - Transdermal Magnesium? Nutrients · PMID 28788060 · DOI |
Narrative review review of human and lab literature |
Review of the literature on magnesium applied through the skin (sprays, flakes and salt baths) | n/a |
The authors evaluated the literature and say that the propagation of transdermal magnesium is scientifically unsupported. They note that oral magnesium for deficiency is well documented and that marketing claims of better absorption through the skin are widespread. Claim of magnesium absorption through the skin from baths: scientifically unsupported Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether magnesium passes through the skin and works better than by mouth Limitations: Only part of the abstract was available in the record read; detailed figures were not read. A narrative review, not a measurement. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Read: abstract |
| Hull 2025 Salty Despair: An Adolescent's Suicide Attempt through Salt Overdose Psychopharmacology Bulletin · PMID 39744409 · DOI |
Case report |
1 One adolescent who swallowed about 4 dessertspoons of kosher salt |
n/a |
The authors say that, depending on age and size, 2 to 4 tablespoons of salt eaten rapidly can be lethal. The adolescent had a favourable outcome with no signs of neurological damage. The authors warn about videos on social media that promote salt overdose. Illustrates the danger of swallowing a large amount of salt Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Outcome after salt overdose Limitations: One case, kosher (food) salt, not a bath salt. Bath salts may contain other minerals whose effect when swallowed was not studied here. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Kakoo Brioso 2022 Salt Poisoning Due to Inadequate Infant Formula Preparation: A Rare Cause of Hypernatremia and Massive Cerebral Hemorrhage in a Newborn Cureus · PMID 36721612 · DOI |
Case report |
1 One newborn with sleepiness and poor feeding |
n/a |
A newborn had very high blood sodium (174 mmol/L), then seizures and bleeding in the brain, after parents mixed too much formula powder into the water. Doctors corrected the sodium carefully and gave seizure medicine, and the baby improved and went home. The authors say children, particularly newborns and infants, have more difficulty keeping salts in balance. Illustrates how too much salt can poison a baby Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood sodium, seizures, brain imaging, recovery Limitations: One case. It was about formula, not bath salt. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
| Katz 2012 Scientific evidence of the therapeutic effects of Dead Sea treatments: a systematic review Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism · PMID 22503590 · DOI |
Systematic review |
All articles found in MEDLINE under the query 'Dead Sea', on psoriasis and rheumatologic diseases and on safety | n/a |
The authors report 'bona fide' evidence of benefit in psoriasis (Dead Sea sun and Dead Sea water baths together) and benefit from Dead Sea mud and baths in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and knee osteoarthritis. They found no increase in skin cancer, though sun damage to skin seemed higher in patients treated at the Dead Sea, and no worsening of blood pressure. They state that swallowing a substantial amount of Dead Sea water (generally in near-drowning cases) is toxic and can cause heart rhythm problems from salt imbalances. Benefit reported in psoriasis and some joint diseases, from combined Dead Sea treatments; ingestion of Dead Sea water is toxic Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Effectiveness in psoriasis and rheumatologic diseases; safety Limitations: Mixes sun, climate, mud and water; the benefit cannot be credited to bath salt bought for a home bath. A narrative review without stated study counts or a quality score in the abstract. One author (Sukenik) also wrote the 1995 knee trial listed on this page. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Khlaifat 2020 Mixing of Dead Sea and Red Sea waters and changes in their physical properties Heliyon · PMID 33204889 · DOI |
Lab study n/a (water analysis) |
Pilot ponds of Dead Sea water and Red Sea mixtures, at a potash company site | n/a |
The full text (read in Europe PMC) states that the Dead Sea has a salinity of 340 g/L, that magnesium (46 g/L) is the main positive ion, followed by sodium (36.5 g/L), calcium (17 g/L) and potassium (7.8 g/L), and that chloride (225 g/L) is the main negative ion, followed by bromide (5.6 g/L). These are figures for the lake water, quoted from earlier work. Gives the composition of Dead Sea water, not of bath salt Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Physical properties of the water (temperature, pH, density, salinity) Limitations: This is the water of the lake, not a bath salt. The study was about mixing waters for industry. One author group works for a potash company. A product sold as Dead Sea salt may differ. Funding and conflicts: Grant listed from Arab Potash Company and Mutah University; some authors work for Arab Potash Company. Read: full-text |
| Maarouf 2019 Bathing Additives for Atopic Dermatitis - A Systematic Review Dermatitis · PMID 31094942 · DOI |
Systematic review |
Review of bathing additives for atopic dermatitis, including Dead Sea salt, hard water, baby cleansers, oatmeal, rice and natural oils | n/a |
The authors say bathing additives, including Dead Sea salt, have anti-inflammatory, skin-barrier-repair, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. They conclude the additives seem to add to the benefit of usual treatments and are useful 'adjuvant' (add-on) treatments for atopic dermatitis. The abstract gives no numbers. Described as an add-on treatment, not a replacement for usual care Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Mechanisms and effects of bathing additives Limitations: The abstract gives no study counts, sizes or ratings of certainty. The authors' own wording is more positive than the small number of trials supports. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Müller 2026 Climatotherapy in marine and Dead Sea environments for musculoskeletal and rheumatologic conditions: a systematic review of effectiveness and safety International Journal of Biometeorology · PMID 42489765 · DOI |
Systematic review |
465 9 studies (465 people) of climatotherapy in marine or Dead Sea settings for joint and rheumatic conditions |
n/a |
Interventions consistently gave short-term improvements in pain, physical function and quality of life. Pooling was possible only for pain (2 studies) and was statistically inconclusive. Analysed by condition, osteoarthritis showed a large, significant effect and fibromyalgia a smaller, non-significant one. No serious adverse events were reported, though safety was inconsistently assessed. The authors say methodological limits prevent firm conclusions. Short-term gains reported, mainly in osteoarthritis; pooled results inconclusive Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pain, physical function, quality of life, safety Limitations: Climatotherapy means a stay with sun, sea or Dead Sea water, mud and exercise together. It does not test bath salt used at home. Few trials, uneven quality. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no competing interests. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42024534694 Read: abstract |
| Pagliaro 2024 Bathing in Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Age: Why, How and When Pediatric Reports · PMID 38251315 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Review of bathing practice and bath additives in children with atopic dermatitis | n/a |
Several additives, including bath salt, bleach baths, baby cleansers and baby oils, 'appear to be promising adjunctive therapies' for atopic dermatitis. The authors add that efficacy and safety are not fully understood in some cases and that further studies are needed. Called promising as an add-on in children; efficacy and safety not fully understood Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Best bathing practices and use of bath additives Limitations: A narrative review without numbers in the abstract. 'Bath salt' is not specific to Dead Sea salt. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| Peinemann 2020 Indoor salt water baths followed by artificial ultraviolet B light for chronic plaque psoriasis (Cochrane review) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · PMID 32368795 · DOI |
Systematic review |
2105 8 randomised trials in adults with chronic plaque psoriasis: 6 between-person trials (2,035 people) and 2 within-person trials (70 people) |
Indoor salt water bath followed by artificial UVB light Varied by trial 2 to 13 months in total · vs UVB light only, or other treatment |
Salt bath plus UVB light may improve psoriasis compared with UVB alone: PASI-75 risk ratio 1.71 (95% CI 1.24 to 2.35; 278 people, low-certainty evidence) in two trials by the same group, assessed at 6 to 8 weeks. Adverse events needing withdrawal: little or no difference (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.35 to 2.64; 404 people, low certainty). One within-person study reported one person with severe itch right after a Dead Sea salt soak. Seven of eight trials had high risk of bias. Commercial spa or salt companies sponsored three of eight trials. May improve psoriasis when added to UVB light (low certainty); cannot draw clear conclusions (RR 1.71 (1.24 to 2.35) for PASI-75) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Psoriasis improvement (PASI-75), adverse events needing withdrawal Limitations: Limited number of trials, low-certainty evidence, outcome assessors not blinded in the two trials that supplied the main result. Indoor spa or clinic baths with light, not home baths. The abstract does not say which salt each trial used; one trial reports a Dead Sea salt soak. Funding and conflicts: Commercial spa or salt companies sponsored 3 of 8 included trials; the German Spas Association funded one of the two main trials. One review author directs a Dead Sea climatotherapy centre and another has done research on salt baths with UVB (both declared). Read: abstract |
| Proksch 2005 Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin International Journal of Dermatology · PMID 15689218 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
Volunteers with atopic dry skin (number not stated in the abstract); one forearm bathed in the salt solution, the other in tap water | 5% Dead Sea salt solution (salt rich in magnesium chloride) versus tap water Forearm submerged 15 minutes (single soak) Outcomes followed for weeks 1 to 6 · vs Tap water on the other forearm |
Bathing in the salt solution improved skin barrier function compared with the tap-water arm in the subgroup that started with raised water loss. Skin hydration rose in each subgroup. Roughness and redness were significantly reduced. The authors say the bath was well tolerated and suggest the effects are most likely related to the high magnesium content. Better barrier function (in the raised-water-loss subgroup), more hydration, less roughness and redness on the treated forearm Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Water loss through the skin (TEWL), skin hydration, roughness and redness, measured before and at weeks 1 to 6 Limitations: Number of volunteers not stated in the abstract. One branded Dead Sea salt, one forearm, 15 minutes. Results after a single soak followed over weeks. Not a whole-body bath, not children, not people with active eczema flares. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. The abstract names the product and its maker (Mavena AG, Switzerland), so a link to the maker is possible. Read: abstract |
| Sukenik 1995 [Dead Sea bath salts for osteoarthritis of the knee] Harefuah (Hebrew; English abstract) · PMID 8543232 |
Controlled trial |
26 26 people with knee osteoarthritis, 13 per group |
Dead Sea bath salts in a bath at 34 to 35 C One 20-minute bath a day 2 weeks, followed up 1 month later · vs Baths with sodium chloride (double-blind) |
Both groups improved on the severity index at the end of 2 weeks (p < 0.01). One month later the Dead Sea salt group was still at p < 0.01 and the sodium chloride group at p < 0.05. Patient's own rating of improvement was significant only in the Dead Sea salt group at the end of treatment. There was no statistical improvement in either group in the other measures. Both baths helped the severity index; only the Dead Sea salt group rated itself better; no difference shown in other measures Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Osteoarthritis severity index, patient's own assessment, knee movement, swelling, fluid in the knee and crepitus (a grating feeling) Limitations: Tiny trial of 26 people, 2 weeks, old (1995). The abstract gives no direct comparison test between the two groups. Both groups improved, which suggests a warm bath alone may have helped. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Ufomadu 2025 The Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Medical Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology · PMID 40078857 |
Narrative review |
Review of complementary and alternative treatments used by people with skin disease | n/a |
Most complementary treatments had statistically insignificant results, and those with significant results came from studies with flawed designs. The authors call the treatments promising but needing better trials, and warn doctors to watch for bias in published studies. General warning about weak evidence for complementary skin treatments Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Efficacy and toxicity of complementary treatments Limitations: The abstract does not name Dead Sea salt or detox claims. Cited only as general context. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| n/a 2026 National Capital Poison Center: Poison Help (home page) n/a · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Page read in full on 2026-10-25. It gives the US Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, and says the web tool and the phone line are free, expert and confidential. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: What to do about a poisoning Limitations: A US service. Outside the US use your local emergency number or poison centre. Read: full-text |
What we do not know yet
- What the evidence supports: skin hydration in one small forearm study (low); psoriasis with UVB light (mixed); joints (very low to low); magnesium absorption through skin (evidence against); detox (insufficient).
- Only one small controlled study tested a Dead Sea salt bath on atopic skin, with volunteer number and funding not stated in the abstract.
- No trial of a whole-body home bath for eczema or psoriasis was found.
- No composition or contaminant testing of bath-salt products was found; the composition figures are for the lake water.
- No safety data in babies, pregnancy or breastfeeding. No regulator page was read.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any evidence rating or safety wording. New publications never change ratings automatically.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 6
Water loss through the skin (TEWL)
Lowered in trials
How much water escapes through the skin surface. Higher means a weaker skin barrier.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
To see whether the skin barrier works better after a soak.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A lab measure of the skin barrier, not how the skin feels day to day.
Safety implication
None reported in the abstract.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Barrier function improved significantly versus the tap-water forearm in the subgroup with raised water loss at the start; no numbers in the abstract. | Volunteers with atopic dry skin (number not stated) | 15-minute forearm soak in 5% Dead Sea salt solution |
Skin surface hydration
Raised in trials
How much water the top layer of the skin holds. It is skin hydration, not body hydration.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Dry skin feels rough and itchy.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Measured on the skin surface after a soak. How long it lasts is not shown in the abstracts.
Safety implication
None reported.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Hydration was enhanced on the salt forearm in each subgroup; no numbers in the abstract. | Volunteers with atopic dry skin (number not stated) | 15-minute forearm soak in 5% Dead Sea salt solution |
| 1 | The review lists better stratum corneum (outer skin layer) hydration as a qualitative finding across seawater therapies. | People with atopic dermatitis in 10 studies | Seawater and Dead Sea treatments |
Skin roughness and redness
Lowered in trials
Measures of how rough and red the skin looks. Redness is used as a sign of inflammation.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
To see whether a soak calms irritated skin.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
One small study. Redness is a rough marker of inflammation.
Safety implication
None reported.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Roughness and redness were significantly reduced after bathing in the salt solution; no numbers in the abstract. | Volunteers with atopic dry skin (number not stated) | 15-minute forearm soak in 5% Dead Sea salt solution |
PASI-75 (psoriasis improvement)
Raised in trials
The share of people whose psoriasis score (PASI) fell by 75% or more.
Mixed findingsResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A standard way to judge whether psoriasis treatment works.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A clinic result with light therapy. It does not show a home bath works.
Safety implication
Seven of eight trials had high risk of bias; one person had severe itch after a Dead Sea salt soak.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Salt bath plus UVB versus UVB alone: risk ratio 1.71 (95% CI 1.24 to 2.35) in two trials by the same group, low certainty. | 278 adults with chronic plaque psoriasis | Indoor salt bath then UVB versus UVB alone |
| 3 | Mean severity over treatment not detectably lower with Dead Sea salt soaks before narrowband UVB (P = 0.099); no clinically important gain. | 60 people with chronic plaque psoriasis | Dead Sea salt soak before narrowband UVB versus narrowband UVB alone |
Knee osteoarthritis severity index
Lowered in trials
A clinician-scored index of how severe knee osteoarthritis is.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
To see whether bath treatment changes the disease score.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Both groups improved, so the salt type may not matter.
Safety implication
None listed in the abstract.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Significant improvement in both the Dead Sea salt group and the sodium chloride group after 2 weeks (p < 0.01); at 1 month the Dead Sea salt group was p < 0.01 and the sodium chloride group p < 0.05. | 26 adults with knee osteoarthritis | Daily baths with Dead Sea bath salts versus sodium chloride |
Magnesium crossing the skin (lab)
No clear change in trials
How much magnesium passes from a solution through a piece of skin in a laboratory cell.
Evidence againstResults and what it means
Why it was measured
To test the claim that bath magnesium gets into the body through the skin.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Lab model with magnesium sulfate. Not a blood test in people after a bath.
Safety implication
Much more magnesium crossed damaged skin in the lab.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Intact pig skin: 8.3 plus or minus 3.4 micrograms per square centimetre (magnesium sulfate) versus 3.9 plus or minus 0.8 (control), no significant difference after 24 hours. Damaged skin: several orders of magnitude higher. | Pig skin in a laboratory cell | Saturated magnesium sulfate solution |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 5
- Do not swallow it: salt poisoning. Bath salt is not food. Swallowing a large amount of salt can cause severe high blood sodium, seizures and brain bleeding, especially in babies and children. A newborn case and an adolescent case are described in the sources, and the authors of the adolescent case say 2 to 4 tablespoons of salt eaten rapidly can be lethal, depending on age and size. A 2012 review states that swallowing a substantial amount of Dead Sea water is toxic and can cause heart rhythm problems. No source we read tested swallowing Dead Sea bath salt, which also holds magnesium and other minerals. Case report 6 5 7 16
- Skin irritation and itch are reported. The Cochrane review of salt baths with UVB light reports skin irritation in one study, and one person had severe itch right after a Dead Sea salt soak. The one forearm study says the soak was well tolerated. Irritation rates for home bath salt were not found. Systematic review 12 13
- Broken or inflamed skin: ask first. In a lab study on pig skin, much more magnesium crossed skin with a damaged barrier than intact skin. That study used magnesium sulfate, not Dead Sea salt. It shows that damaged skin lets more through. Whether that matters for a bath in people is not known. Salt can also sting open sores. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before soaking cracked, weeping or infected skin. Laboratory 2
- Children and babies. A 2024 review of bathing in children with atopic dermatitis calls bath salt promising but says efficacy and safety are not fully understood. We found no safety study of Dead Sea salt in babies. Ask a doctor before using any bath additive on a baby or on a child with eczema. Narrative review 11
- Psoriasis salt baths come with UV light. The best-known research on salt baths for psoriasis is clinic treatment with ultraviolet (UVB) light, given under medical care. UV light carries skin risks of its own, and the 2012 Dead Sea review found sun damage to the skin seemed higher in patients treated at the Dead Sea. A salt bath alone is not that treatment. Systematic review 12 7
Side effects 4
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin irritation or severe itch after a salt soak These were baths followed by UVB light in clinics. Home bath data were not found. | Skin irritation was reported in one trial; one participant in a within-person study reported severe itch immediately after a Dead Sea salt soak. Rates not given. | mild to moderate Not stated in the abstract. | Systematic review 12 |
| Mild adverse events with seawater and Dead Sea treatments These are spa and climate programmes, not just bath salt. | Described as minimal and mild across 10 studies; no serious adverse events in 9 joint-disease studies, though safety was inconsistently assessed. | mild Not stated. | Systematic review 1 10 |
| Salt poisoning if swallowed (high blood sodium, seizures, brain bleeding) The cases involve formula and kitchen salt, not bath salt. | Rare; described in single cases. | severe The newborn and the adolescent in the cases recovered with hospital care. | Case report 6 5 |
| Sun damage to skin in patients treated at the Dead Sea The review found no increase in skin cancer. This is about sun at the site, not bath salt. | Not quantified in the abstract. | moderate Not stated. | Systematic review 7 |
Medicines and supplements 3
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin medicines (steroid creams, vitamin D creams and similar) prescription | Not described in any source read. | No source read describes an interaction. Salt soaks were tested as an add-on to usual treatment in some studies, but the abstracts do not list how medicines were combined. | Gap Not enough evidence | Absence of a report is not proof of safety. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before soaking if you use skin medicines. |
| UV light treatment (phototherapy) prescription | Salt baths are used before UVB light in clinics. | The Cochrane review combines the bath with UVB light under medical care. Do not copy this at home with sunbeds or sun. | Systematic review Low certainty 12 3 | Light treatment must be planned by a dermatologist. |
| Magnesium or other supplements and medicines supplement | The lab study found little magnesium crossing intact pig skin. | No source shows a bath changes body magnesium, so no interaction is expected from intact skin. We found no human study that measured it. | Laboratory Not enough evidence 2 4 | If you have kidney disease or take magnesium-affecting medicines, ask your clinician before regular soaks with broken skin. |
Who should check first 6
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Open wounds, infected or weeping skin | Ask a doctor first. Salt can sting, and a lab study found much more magnesium crossing damaged skin (magnesium sulfate, pig skin). Medical-grade wound care is different from a bath. | Laboratory 2 |
| Babies and young children | No safety study of Dead Sea salt in babies was found. A 2024 review says bath salt efficacy and safety are not fully understood in children with atopic dermatitis. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using it. Keep all bath salt out of reach, because swallowing salt can poison a child. | Narrative review 11 6 |
| Pregnancy | No study of Dead Sea salt baths in pregnancy was found. Ask your midwife or doctor. | Gap |
| Breastfeeding | No study was found. Ask your clinician. | Gap |
| Heart, kidney or blood pressure conditions | A 2012 review found Dead Sea treatments did not worsen blood pressure, but it covers whole spa programmes. No bath-salt-specific study in these conditions was found. Ask your doctor. | Systematic review 7 |
| Allergy to a fragrance, colour or other ingredient | Some products are sold with added scents or oils. No source we read reports allergy to Dead Sea salt itself. Check the ingredient list and ask a pharmacist. | Gap |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. Salt is toxic in large amounts when swallowed. The adolescent case authors say 2 to 4 tablespoons eaten rapidly can be lethal, depending on age and size. A 2012 review says swallowing a substantial amount of Dead Sea water is toxic and can cause heart rhythm problems from electrolyte disturbance.
Animal. Not reviewed for this profile.
Human doses studied. The bath studies used a 5% solution for a 15-minute forearm soak and daily 20-minute baths; amounts of salt per bath are not given in the abstracts. No amounts are advised here.
High dose or long term signals. Long-term bath safety was not described in the abstracts read. The 2012 review found no increase in skin cancer and no worsening of blood pressure with Dead Sea treatments.
Overdose response. Treat swallowing a large amount as an emergency. In the US call Poison Help on 1-800-222-1222, or call 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened. Elsewhere call your local emergency number or poison centre.
Genotoxicity. Not read.
We found no published testing of bath-salt products sold as Dead Sea salt for metals or other contaminants, and no standard composition for the salt. The only composition figures we read are for the lake water, from a study at a potash company site.
What the lake water holds. Dead Sea water has a salinity of 340 g/L, with magnesium (46 g/L) the main positive ion, then sodium (36.5), calcium (17) and potassium (7.8), and chloride (225) the main negative ion, then bromide (5.6). These are lake water figures. A bath salt made from the water or its minerals may differ. 8
Contaminants in bath salt products. Not found in the sources read. Absence of data is not proof of absence.
Product labelling. Products sold as 'Dead Sea salt' are not standardised in any source we read. The forearm study used one branded product rich in magnesium chloride. 13
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Capital Poison Center (US) (United States) | Runs the Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222, free, expert and confidential. Use it or your local emergency number if a large amount of salt has been swallowed. source | 2026 |
When to get medical help
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dead Sea salt?
Does Dead Sea salt help eczema?
Possibly a little, but the evidence is small. One forearm study in dry, eczema-prone skin found better hydration, less roughness and less redness. Reviews call bath salt a promising add-on for atopic dermatitis but say efficacy and safety are not fully understood. It is not a replacement for medical care.
Does it help psoriasis?
Is it good for arthritis or joint pain?
Is magnesium absorbed through the skin from a bath?
Does Dead Sea salt detox the body?
We found no study showing it does. Detox claims are sold, but no source we read defines or measures a toxin leaving through a bath.
Is it safe on broken or irritated skin?
Is it safe for babies, children or pregnancy?
We found no safety study of Dead Sea salt for babies, pregnancy or breastfeeding. A 2024 review says bath salt efficacy and safety are not fully understood in children with atopic dermatitis. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist first.
Can Dead Sea salt be poisonous?
Yes, if swallowed in large amounts. Salt poisoning can cause very high blood sodium, seizures and brain bleeding, especially in babies and children. A 2012 review says swallowing a substantial amount of Dead Sea water is toxic. Keep bath salt out of reach of children. In the US call 1-800-222-1222.
How is Dead Sea salt different from Epsom salt?
Does it contain bromide and has it been tested for contaminants?
Lake water has bromide at 5.6 g/L, according to one study. We found no published testing of bath-salt products for bromide, metals or other contaminants, so we cannot assess any brand.
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We searched PubMed and Europe PMC for Dead Sea salt, balneotherapy, salt baths and transdermal magnesium, read the abstracts of about 15 papers, the full text of one water analysis, and the Poison Help page. We checked PubChem for the chemical names. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading. Climate and spa programmes are kept separate from bath salt. Where the numbers are not in an abstract we say so. No study is cited that we could not verify.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
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Sources 16
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Alshalhoob HB, Almagushi NA, Alanazi RS, Alghuyaythat WK, AlQifari HS, Alfaqeh AH, Sanguf MA, Asiree RH, Alajroush N. Efficacy and Safety of Seawater Therapy Versus Non-pharmacological Interventions for Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2025. PMID 41311774. DOI 10.7759/cureus.95450. (abstract)
- Camili V, Stürup S, Heinz A. Does magnesium permeate the skin? An ex vivo investigation of magnesium ion delivery through intact and barrier-disrupted skin. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 2026. PMID 42372834. DOI 10.1016/j.ejpb.2026.115173. (abstract)
- Dawe RS, Yule S, Cameron H, Moseley H, Ibbotson SH, Ferguson J. A randomized controlled comparison of the efficacy of Dead Sea salt balneophototherapy vs. narrowband ultraviolet B monotherapy for chronic plaque psoriasis. British Journal of Dermatology. 2005. PMID 16120152. DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06663.x. (abstract)
- Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K. Myth or Reality - Transdermal Magnesium?. Nutrients. 2017. PMID 28788060. DOI 10.3390/nu9080813. (abstract)
- Hull A, Reddy A. Salty Despair: An Adolescent's Suicide Attempt through Salt Overdose. Psychopharmacology Bulletin. 2025. PMID 39744409. DOI 10.64719/pb.4515. (abstract)
- Kakoo Brioso E, Moscoso J, Vieira F, Salazar A, Tuna M. Salt Poisoning Due to Inadequate Infant Formula Preparation: A Rare Cause of Hypernatremia and Massive Cerebral Hemorrhage in a Newborn. Cureus. 2022. PMID 36721612. DOI 10.7759/cureus.33045. (abstract)
- Katz U, Shoenfeld Y, Zakin V, Sherer Y, Sukenik S. Scientific evidence of the therapeutic effects of Dead Sea treatments: a systematic review. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2012. PMID 22503590. DOI 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2012.02.006. (abstract)
- Khlaifat A, Batarseh M, Nawayseh K, Amira J, Talafeha E. Mixing of Dead Sea and Red Sea waters and changes in their physical properties. Heliyon. 2020. PMID 33204889. DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05444. (full-text)
- Maarouf M, Hendricks AJ, Shi VY. Bathing Additives for Atopic Dermatitis - A Systematic Review. Dermatitis. 2019. PMID 31094942. DOI 10.1097/DER.0000000000000459. (abstract)
- Müller TL, Hellmann F, de Oliveira Rodrigues DM, Vela ML, Maraver F. Climatotherapy in marine and Dead Sea environments for musculoskeletal and rheumatologic conditions: a systematic review of effectiveness and safety. International Journal of Biometeorology. 2026. PMID 42489765. DOI 10.1007/s00484-026-03279-1. (abstract)
- Pagliaro M, Pecoraro L, Stefani C, Pieropan S, Piacentini G, Pietrobelli A. Bathing in Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Age: Why, How and When. Pediatric Reports. 2024. PMID 38251315. DOI 10.3390/pediatric16010006. (abstract)
- Peinemann F, Harari M, Peternel S, Chan T, Chan D, Labeit AM, Gambichler T. Indoor salt water baths followed by artificial ultraviolet B light for chronic plaque psoriasis (Cochrane review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020. PMID 32368795. DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD011941.pub2. (abstract)
- Proksch E, Nissen HP, Bremgartner M, Urquhart C. Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin. International Journal of Dermatology. 2005. PMID 15689218. DOI 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x. (abstract)
- Sukenik S, Mayo A, Neumann L, Flusser D, Kleiner-Baumgarten A, Buskila D. [Dead Sea bath salts for osteoarthritis of the knee]. Harefuah (Hebrew; English abstract). 1995. PMID 8543232. (abstract)
- Ufomadu P, Gill BJ, Orengo I, Rosen T, Shimizu I. The Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Medical Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2025. PMID 40078857. (abstract)
- n/a. National Capital Poison Center: Poison Help (home page). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
Where to buy
Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:
- Whether it is iodized if you rely on salt for iodine
- The origin and purity statement
- Food grade versus bath or cosmetic grade
- Sodium amount, which matters for blood pressure
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.
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