If you’re living with eczema or psoriasis, you know just how frustrating and uncomfortable these skin conditions can be. If you have been dealing with eczema or psoriasis for a while you have probably been suggested saline or salt water baths for the affected areas by your doctor or dermatologist. However, My Recovery Lab’s cold water therapy technology can be specifically used with salt water solutions to create combined cold salt water therapy treatment. This natural treatment has been used for centuries to help with various skin issues, and it might just be the relief you’ve been looking for. Firstly we will explain how our ice bath units work, then we will deep dive into how cold salt water therapy can positively combat your symptoms from home.
How our units work: Our ice baths come in two parts, first the bath or tub made from a durable PVC material that is inflated, so is easily manoeuvrable, similar to inflatable paddle boards. These are obviously both incredibly insulated (in order to keep the water cold) but they’re also extremely durable against the sometimes damaging effects of salt water.
Secondly, our units come with a chiller unit with internal materials, such as titanium alloy, specifically selected to be resistant to the effects of salt water. The chiller allows you to manually and remotely control the water temperature (all the way down to 3°C). It also combines 3-layered filtration technology to purify the water allowing you to maintain the water in the ice bath for extended periods of time. This way you’re able to have daily cold salt water therapy from the comfort of your own home, without having to visit special locations, paying every visit.
Why Cold Salt Water Therapy Using Ice Baths?
Cold salt water therapy, or thalassotherapy, combines the benefits of cold water and salt-rich water, which is packed with minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium. These minerals, along with the cooling effect of cold water, work together to calm inflamed skin, fight off bacteria, and improve your skin’s overall health.
Let’s break down how this works and why it could be beneficial for your eczema or psoriasis.
1. Ice Baths Reduce Inflammation
- Cold Water: When you immerse yourself in cold water, your blood vessels constrict. This reduces blood flow to inflamed areas, which can help to decrease the redness and swelling that come with eczema and psoriasis. In fact, a study showed that cold water immersion significantly lowered the levels of inflammation-causing molecules in the body & local skin areas. - Link: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
- Salt Water: The minerals in salt water, especially magnesium, have anti-inflammatory properties. Magnesium helps calm the skin by reducing the release of those pesky molecules that cause inflammation. One study (Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2003 -Proksch E., Enzmann H., et al.) found that bathing in salt water with high magnesium content significantly reduced skin roughness and inflammation in people with eczema.
Cold water therapy through the use of ice baths has been used in sport for a long time now. However the same positive effects on combatting muscle inflammation are applied to localised skin areas. My Recovery Lab ice baths are convenient in that they can be easily moved, and allow you to have this professional level experience from your own home. Meaning you can experience the benefits on a daily basis.
2. Cold Salt Water Fights Infections
- Salt Water: If you have eczema, you might be more prone to skin infections due to a weakened skin barrier. Salt water is naturally antimicrobial, meaning it can help keep harmful bacteria at bay. A study (Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2003 - Matz H., Orion E., Wolf R.) showed that salt water solutions could reduce the presence of Staphylococcus aureus on the skin, which is a common bacteria that often worsens eczema symptoms. - Link: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
- Cold Water: Cold water also helps by creating an environment that’s less friendly for bacteria to thrive, further reducing the risk of infections.
3. Cold Salt Water Strengthens Your Skin Barrier
- Magnesium and Other Minerals: The minerals in salt water do more than just calm your skin—they actually help strengthen your skin barrier. This is particularly important for those with eczema, as your skin barrier is often compromised. Research has shown that magnesium-rich salt water can improve skin hydration and reduce water loss, which helps keep your skin more resilient and less prone to irritation.
- Cold Water: By tightening your skin and reducing pore size, cold water helps to protect against irritants and allergens that can trigger flare-ups.
4. Ice Baths Relieve Itchiness
- Cold Water: There’s nothing quite like the relief that comes from cooling down itchy skin. Cold water has a numbing effect, which can provide immediate relief from the constant itching that comes with eczema and psoriasis.
- Salt Water: Salt water is also soothing, thanks to its ability to calm irritated skin and promote healing. The mineral-rich water is similar to your body’s own natural fluids, which can help restore balance to your skin and ease that relentless itch.
5. Cold Salt Water Gently Exfoliates
- Salt Water: For those with psoriasis, dealing with the build-up of dry skin can be a challenge. Salt water acts as a natural exfoliant, helping to gently remove dead skin cells and improve the appearance of psoriatic plaques. Regular salt water therapy has been shown to help reduce scaling and promote smoother skin.
- Cold Water: Cold water further supports this exfoliation process by improving circulation and helping your skin shed dead cells more effectively.
With this effect of exfoliation you may be thinking, what about maintaining the water? One of the 3 layers of filtration in our ice bath chillers collects waste material from the water and stores it in an external filter unit that is quick and easy to manually clear. Also unlike other products on the market, our micro filters are made of a durable metal alloy meaning they are reusable greatly reducing ongoing filter costs.
Real Results You Can Feel
At this point you’re probably wondering, does this really work? Well, studies have shown that it does. For example, research on Dead Sea salt baths, which are famous for their high mineral content, found that people with psoriasis saw a 30-50% improvement in their skin after regular treatments. Similarly, people with eczema who bathed in magnesium-rich salt water reported a 20-40% reduction in itchiness and a noticeable improvement in their skin’s overall condition.
How to Get Started with Salt Water Ice Baths
Depending on your financial situation, investing in one of our cold salt water therapy ice bath units for your home might be an expense. You can create your own salt water bath at home by adding high-quality sea salt or Epsom salts to cool bathwater and adding ice. To see extended benefits you would want to do this several times a week and experiment with different temperatures for the water. However, be aware cold water therapy is considered water 15°C and lower so you might need quite a bit of ice, also without a filtration system, you will need to replace the water, ice and salt each time!
For those of your who have tried before and want the convenience of a product specifically designed for cold salt water therapy, then explore our range of ice bath products.
Remember, it’s always a good idea to check with your dermatologist before starting any new treatment, especially if you have sensitive skin or other underlying conditions.