Dead Sea Salt: What the Sources Say and Safety
Dead Sea salt is sold for baths; one small study found soaking helped atopic dry skin, magnesium barely passes intact skin, and no source supports detox or swallowing it.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What is Dead Sea Salt good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Soaking atopic dry skin in Dead Sea salt solution
Preliminary or mixedIn a within-person study, volunteers with atopic dry skin soaked one forearm 15 minutes in a 5% solution of a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt and the other in tap water. Skin barrier function improved in those with raised baseline water loss; hydration rose, and roughness and redness fell. A 2024 review calls bath salt a promising add-on in children's atopic dermatitis but says efficacy and safety are not fully understood.
Supplements: Applies to one salt and bathing, not to swallowing or other products.
Salt baths with UVB light for psoriasis
Preliminary or mixedA Cochrane review of 8 trials found low-certainty evidence that indoor salt baths plus UVB may improve psoriasis versus UVB alone; most trials had high risk of bias and three were funded by spa or salt companies.
Supplements: Not shown for a home soak.
Dead Sea climatotherapy and seawater therapy (travel treatments)
Preliminary or mixedA 2025 review of 10 studies found seawater and Dead Sea therapy improved atopic dermatitis scores with few mild side effects; a 2026 review of 9 studies (465 people) found short-term pain and function gains, mainly in osteoarthritis, but pooled results were inconclusive.
Supplements: Does not show benefit for salt bought for the home.
Magnesium absorbed through the skin (claim check)
Lab or animal research onlyA 2017 review called transdermal magnesium scientifically unsupported. A 2026 pig-skin lab study found minimal magnesium passing intact skin and far more through damaged skin.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit.
Detox and 'draws out toxins' claims
Not enough evidenceSeller claims. No study of Dead Sea salt for detox was found in the sources we read; a 2025 review of complementary dermatology treatments found most results insignificant or poorly designed.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit.
Mineral content
Not enough evidenceMagnesium salts are the prevalent minerals in Dead Sea water (study authors). A review reports Dead Sea salt could supply just under 10% of daily manganese at table-salt intake. No standard composition was found.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Healthy SkinPreliminary or mixed
One small soaking study found better hydration and less roughness in atopic dry skin; not shown for other skin.
Body systems (2)
- Integumentary SystemPreliminary or mixed
Skin barrier and hydration findings in one small study; Cochrane low-certainty for psoriasis with UVB.
- Skin, Hair & BeautyPreliminary or mixed
Soaking study in atopic dry skin; mixed and limited evidence.
Body parts (1)
- SkinPreliminary or mixed
Skin barrier, hydration and redness improved in atopic dry skin after soaking.
Functional actions (1)
- Hydration SupportPreliminary or mixed
Skin hydration rose in the soaking study; this is skin, not body hydration.
Conditions & symptoms (4)
- Dermatitis, AtopicPreliminary or mixed
Small soaking study and review of seawater therapy suggest benefit; evidence limited and low certainty.
- Dry SkinPreliminary or mixed
Hydration improved in atopic dry skin in one small study.
- HypernatremiaDocumented risk
Swallowing large amounts of salt can cause severe high blood sodium.
- PsoriasisPreliminary or mixed
Cochrane: indoor salt baths plus UVB may help versus UVB alone, low certainty; not a home bath.
Documented risks and interactions (4)
- Swallowing: salt poisoning. The sources we read have no study of swallowing Dead Sea salt. Large amounts of any salt can cause severe high blood sodium, documented in a newborn and a teenager. Call Poison Help (US 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number.
- Damaged skin and open wounds. Magnesium crossed damaged skin far more easily than intact skin in a lab study; the soaking study used skin with raised water loss but no wounds. Wound use is not described in the sources we read.
- Sodium content and blood pressure. Dead Sea salt also contains sodium chloride. WHO says excess sodium raises blood pressure and recommends under 2,000 mg sodium a day for adults.
- Babies, children and pregnancy. A 2024 review says the safety of some bath additives in children with atopic dermatitis is not fully understood. The NHS says babies cannot handle much salt. Pregnancy and hot-bath cautions are not described in the sources we read.
The short answer: the best human evidence is for soaking dry, eczema-prone skin, and it is thin. One small study had volunteers with atopic dry skin soak one forearm for 15 minutes in a 5% solution of a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt, with tap water on the other arm; skin hydration, roughness and redness improved [1]. Magnesium moves very little through intact skin in lab tests [4][5], and we found no source supporting "detox" or swallowing it. Salt is dangerous if a lot is swallowed: call Poison Help (US 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number [9].
This page keeps seller claims, lab findings and human trials apart, and it separates bathing, a trip to the Dead Sea, and eating salt.
What Dead Sea salt is
It is salt taken from the Dead Sea or its brine. Magnesium salts are the prevalent minerals in Dead Sea water, according to the authors of the soaking study [1]. That is different from table salt, which is almost all sodium chloride. Products vary: some are raw evaporated salt, some come from "deep layers", and some are blends with added oils or scents. A review of salt composition says Dead Sea salt can provide just under 10% of the daily manganese requirement at a table-salt intake of about 5 g a day [8], so it does contain minerals besides sodium chloride. Other names: Dead Sea bath salt, Dead Sea minerals. Dead Sea mud is a different product; see Dead Sea Mud. Exact mineral percentages differ by seller and the sources we read give no standard composition.
Claims and what the sources found
| Claim or use | What the best source found | Evidence label | Route, product and who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath for dry or eczema-prone skin | In a within-person study, 5% salt solution improved skin barrier function in the subgroup with raised water loss, raised skin hydration in all, and lowered roughness and redness; the product was well tolerated [1]. A 2024 review says bath salt looks promising as an add-on for children with atopic dermatitis, but its efficacy and safety are not fully understood [7]. | Promising but limited | Forearm soak, one specific salt, adults with atopic dry skin |
| Salt baths with ultraviolet light for psoriasis | A Cochrane review of 8 trials found low-certainty evidence that indoor salt baths plus UVB may improve psoriasis compared with UVB alone; trials had high risk of bias and three were funded by spas or salt companies [2]. | Mixed | Spa baths plus light therapy; not a home bath |
| Going to the Dead Sea (sun, sea and mineral environment) | A 2025 review of 10 studies of seawater and Dead Sea treatments for atopic dermatitis found SCORAD improvements and few mild side effects, and asked for larger trials with set protocols [6]. A 2026 review of 9 studies (465 people) found short-term pain relief, especially in osteoarthritis, but could not pool results firmly [10]. | Promising but limited | Travel, sunshine and climate combined; cannot be credited to the salt alone |
| "Magnesium absorbs through the skin" | A 2017 review called transdermal magnesium scientifically unsupported [4]. A 2026 pig-skin lab study found minimal magnesium passed intact skin; it passed far more through damaged skin [5]. | Lab or animal only; No good evidence of benefit | Lab; magnesium sulfate, not Dead Sea salt |
| "Detox, draws out toxins" | Proper evidence not found. We read no study of Dead Sea salt for this. See Detox Claims. | No good evidence of benefit | Not studied |
| "Cures acne, psoriasis, arthritis at home" | A 2025 review of complementary dermatology treatments found most had statistically insignificant results, and positive studies were often poorly designed [11]. | Insufficient evidence | Mixed products and conditions |
Limits: the key study had few people, tested one product, and the abstract does not state funding. Spa trials cannot be blinded well. A result from a clinic bath does not carry over to a home bath with a different salt, and none of this applies to eating the salt.
Safety by group
- Swallowing. The sources we read have no study of swallowing Dead Sea salt. Salt poisoning with severe high blood sodium is documented from large amounts of salt, including in a newborn [14]. A 2025 case report says 2 to 4 tablespoons of salt taken quickly can be lethal depending on age and size [3]. Call Poison Help (US 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number [9]. Do not swallow bath water or use bath salts as a food salt.
- Sodium. Dead Sea salt is also salt. WHO says too much sodium raises blood pressure and recommends under 2,000 mg of sodium a day for adults [12].
- Skin. The study reported no problems with the 5% solution [1]. The sources we read give no rates of irritation or allergy. Dead Sea salt in open wounds or on broken skin: not described in the sources we read. Magnesium crossed damaged skin far more easily in a lab test [5], so a very damaged barrier is another reason to ask a clinician.
- Eyes. Not described in the sources we read; rinse with clean water if salt gets in.
- Contamination. Not described for bath salts in the sources we read.
- Heat, heart, blood pressure and pregnancy. The sources we read do not describe hot-bath cautions. People with heart disease, blood pressure problems or pregnancy should ask their clinician before long hot soaks.
- Babies and children. The 2024 review covers bath additives in children with atopic dermatitis but says their safety is not fully understood [7]. The NHS says babies cannot handle much salt [13].
- Medicines. Not described in the sources we read.
How it is used and what to look for on a label
- Bath salt crystals, fine or coarse, and scrubs. The soaking study used a 5% solution; do not read that as advice, because other products differ [1].
- Ask whether the pack says "for bathing" or for food. Many are not meant to be eaten.
- Be wary of "detox", "heals eczema" and "dozens of minerals" claims: we found no support.
- Keep it away from open wounds and out of reach of children.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Do Dead Sea salt baths help eczema or dry skin?
One small study found improvements after soaking in a specific 5% solution [1]. Reviews say more research is needed for children and for other products [7].
Does Dead Sea salt detox the body?
Proper evidence not found. A review of complementary dermatology treatments found mostly weak or poorly designed studies [11].
Can the skin absorb magnesium from Dead Sea salt?
A lab study found little magnesium crossing intact skin, though much more through damaged skin [5]. A 2017 review called the idea scientifically unsupported [4].
Is it safe to swallow or use as table salt?
We found no source supporting that, and large amounts of salt can poison. Call Poison Help (US 1-800-222-1222) if someone swallowed a lot [9].
Is it safe in pregnancy or for children?
The sources we read do not say. Ask a clinician; the 2024 review calls the safety of bath additives for children not fully understood [7].
References
- Proksch E, et al. Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin. Int J Dermatol 2005 (abstract, PubMed 15689218). Read 2026-10-24.
- Peinemann F, et al. Indoor salt water baths followed by artificial ultraviolet B light for chronic plaque psoriasis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020 (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Hull A, Reddy A. Salty Despair: An Adolescent's Suicide Attempt through Salt Overdose. Psychopharmacol Bull 2025 (case report, abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Gröber U, et al. Myth or Reality: Transdermal Magnesium?. Nutrients 2017 (review, abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Camili V, Stürup S, Heinz A. Does magnesium permeate the skin? An ex vivo investigation. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2026 (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Alshalhoob HB, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Seawater Therapy Versus Non-pharmacological Interventions for Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2025 (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Pagliaro M, et al. Bathing in Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Age: Why, How and When. Pediatr Rep 2024 (review, abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Chudy S, Makowska A, Kowalski R. Sodium Chloride in Food. Foods 2025 (review, Europe PMC full text). Read 2026-10-24.
- National Capital Poison Center. Poison Help. Read 2026-10-24.
- Müller TL, et al. Climatotherapy in marine and Dead Sea environments for musculoskeletal and rheumatologic conditions: a systematic review. Int J Biometeorol 2026 (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- Ufomadu P, et al. The Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Medical Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2025 (abstract). Read 2026-10-24.
- World Health Organization. Salt reduction (fact sheet). Page dated 11 May 2026. Read 2026-10-24.
- NHS (UK). Salt in your diet. Last reviewed 17 April 2023. Read 2026-10-24.
- Kakoo Brioso E, et al. Salt Poisoning Due to Inadequate Infant Formula Preparation. Cureus 2022 (case report, abstract). Read 2026-10-24.