arah had seborrheic dermatitis that was difficult to control, even with the best prescription medications. She had tried countless products over the years, but nothing seemed to work as well as she wanted. One day, she stumbled upon an article about the benefits of Himalayan salt for skincare. Intrigued, she decided to give it a try.
She purchased a small bag of Himalayan salt and started experimenting with different ways to use it. She discovered that mixing it with warm water created a gentle exfoliating scrub that left her skin feeling soft and smooth. She also found that adding a few crystals of salt to her bath water helped to detoxify her skin and reduce inflammation.
Lo and behold, her rash disappeared, never to be seen again. Sarah realized that sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones, and that nature has a way of providing us with everything we need to take care of ourselves.
Sounds familiar? Reddit is filled with miracle stories like that. Before you run out to buy a pound of Himalayan salt, consider the scientific evidence behind this home remedy – there is none. In fact, excessively using Himalayan Salt on your skin may aggravate Seb Derm.
Let’s take a deep dive:
Sarah had seborrheic dermatitis that was difficult to control, even with the best prescription medications. She had tried countless products over the years, but nothing seemed to work as well as she wanted. One day, she stumbled upon an article about the benefits of Himalayan salt for skincare. Intrigued, she decided to give it a try.
She purchased a small bag of Himalayan salt and started experimenting with different ways to use it. She discovered that mixing it with warm water created a gentle exfoliating scrub that left her skin feeling soft and smooth. She also found that adding a few crystals of salt to her bath water helped to detoxify her skin and reduce inflammation.
Lo and behold, her rash disappeared, never to be seen again. Sarah realized that sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones, and that nature has a way of providing us with everything we need to take care of ourselves.
Sounds familiar? Reddit is filled with miracle stories like that. Before you run out to buy a pound of Himalayan salt, consider the scientific evidence behind this home remedy – there is none. In fact, excessively using Himalayan Salt on your skin may aggravate Seb Derm.
Let’s take a deep dive:
Himalayan Salt: An Overview
Check it out on AmazonNutrition Content
Himalayan salt is a type of rock salt that is primarily composed of sodium chloride, but also contains trace amounts of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium. These minerals give the salt its characteristic pink color and slightly different flavor compared to regular table salt.
Health Claims
Many people believe that Himalayan salt has numerous health benefits. For instance, it is known to have antimicrobial properties, which may make it helpful in treating skin conditions like acne, eczema, and even seborrheic dermatitis.
Some people claim that inhaling salt particles from a Himalayan salt lamp or using a salt inhaler can improve your breathing, but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.
Check it out on AmazonOrigin
Himalayan salt comes from the Punjab region of Pakistan, which is located in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. The salt is extracted from ancient salt mines that were formed millions of years ago when the area was covered by an ancient sea. The salt mines are located deep underground and the salt is extracted by hand using traditional methods. Once the salt is extracted, it is then washed, dried, and sorted before being sold. Because of its unique location and the way it is extracted, Himalayan salt is considered to be one of the purest forms of salt available.
The Use of Himalayan Salt for Skin Conditions
When dealing with skin rashes, finding relief can be challenging. It is believed that the minerals present in Himalayan salt, such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium, may help reduce inflammation and soothe irritated skin. Plus, the salt’s antibacterial properties may help prevent infection in areas of broken skin.
Check it out on AmazonFurther reading: Is Epsom salt good for seborrheic dermatitis?
Over the years, many people have sworn by Himalayan Salt as a treatment for skin rash due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties but this is not backed by sound evidence.
Is Himalayan Salt Good For Seborrheic Dermatitis?
I’ll start with saying that there is no scientific evidence whatsoever that Himalayan salt can improve seborrheic dermatitis. It has never been studied as a potential treatment for seborrheic dermatitis or for its anti-fungal activity against Malassezia.
Based on small lab studies, we sort of know two things about Himalayan Salt when it comes to skincare:
- Himalayan Salt has antimicrobial properties
- Himalayan Salt has antifungal activity against Candida
We can make an educated guess that using Himalayan Salt on our skin may balance our skin microbiome, which is an important component of good Seb Derm control. Whether or not that ‘rebalance’ will cause issues of its own is unknown.
Himalayan Salt (and every other type of salt) will always draw water out of your skin and cause skin dryness. This may make the flaking worse.
You know the saying ‘rubbing salt into an open wound’? You’re basically doing that when you use salt on a Seb Derm rash. I can tell you it stings! It can also cause more irritation and exacerbate your existing symptoms.
Based on all these factors, I don’t recommend using Himalayan Salt as a treatment for seborrheic dermatitis.
Safe Ways To Use Himalayan Salt For Seborrheic Dermatitis Or Dandruff
However, if you’re keen to try this home remedy, I suggest using it as a scrub or wash rather than as a leave-in treatment. This way, you take advantage of its exfoliating benefits without risking too much dryness. Here are some ‘safer’ ways to use Himalayan Salt:
Salt Soaks
Check it out on AmazonDissolve a cup or two of Himalayan salt into a warm bath, and then soak in the water for about 20-30 minutes. This will allow the salt’s minerals to penetrate your skin, potentially reducing inflammation and helping to improve the overall condition of your skin. Be sure to rinse off any residue after soaking and gently pat your skin dry.
Salt Scrubs
Mix a spoonful of Himalayan Salt with a some jojoba oil or other safe oil for Seb Derm. Then, use it as you would a scrub on your face or on your scalp. Rinse off thoroughly and wash off the oily residue with a face wash or shampoo after.
If you’re using salt on your skin, make sure you moisturize well after to prevent skin dryness and further irritation.
Never use sea water as a free alternative to store-bought salt. I tell you why in this article: The Dangers of using Sea Water to treat Seborrheic Dermatitis
Is Ingesting Himalayan Salt Good For Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Check it out on AmazonIngesting Himalayan Salt is not better or worse for seborrheic dermatitis than any other salt, including cheap table salt. While its been said to contain many more minerals that table salt lacks, regular people ingest so little salt that it makes no difference to your nutrition needs.
In fact, some Himalayan salt samples were found to contain heavy metals with some levels exceeding contaminant levels.
So eat whatever salt you want, and always in moderation.
