Discover the benefits of seawater for the skin

Find out how to make the best use of seawater for your health

Seawater can be a great ally in skincare. After all, it contains valuable minerals such as chlorine, bromine, calcium, magnesium and iodine. And these, in turn, help fight infections and disorders. In addition, there is also the presence of salt, which helps to moisturize the skin in a deep and gentle way.

However, just as seawater can do the skin very well, there are some precautions that need to be taken. Therefore, referring to the study of dermatologist Antonino di Pietro, we will talk about the main precautions so that you can maximize all the benefits of sea water. And, consequently, what to do to avoid possible problems with it.

Is seawater good for the skin?

The answer is yes. The minerals that make up sea water have a disinfectant effect. Furthermore, they help to potentiate the action of certain proteins that can act in an antiseptic and antifungal way. As such, it helps to prevent and fight infections and inhibit the development of fungal organisms. In turn, the salt cleans and softens the skin, contributing to the balance of the hydro-lipid film – the thin film composed of water and lipids that covers the skin. Therefore, it accelerates the natural restoration of our skin barriers.

Being in contact with seawater can alleviate skin conditions such as acne and seborrheic dermatitis, and improve scars and wounds. It can also benefit people with psoriasis – a disease that presents with patches covered with small scales.

Seawater helps to enhance the action of certain proteins in the body. In addition, it has a healing and disinfectant effect.

When can seawater be bad?

Seawater can be harmful when combined with heavy exposure to the sun. This is because the salt crystals contained in the water amplify the effect of the sun’s rays. This, in turn, acts like a kind of tiny mirrors spread across the skin, intensifying dehydration. Therefore, the skin dries out.

To maintain all the benefits of bathing in the seawater, it is recommended that you always take a fresh water bath after leaving the sea. This removes these salt crystal residues from the skin. This removes these salt crystal residues from the skin. Furthermore, according to an interview given in Corriere della Sera, there is a recurring problem that affects the skin in summer. “Hydrocarbon acne” happens when people bathe in seas that are not completely clean and free from fuel pollution. Burnt oil leaves an invisible layer on the water that rests on the skin and only reacts with contact with the sun. The result can be a clogging of the pores and an inflammation of the skin called oil acne. In other cases, it may be an allergic reaction to these substances that leads to an itchy feeling.

After bathing in the seawater, a fresh water bath and the use of an after sun product are always recommended.

How to prevent the worsening of rosacea symptoms?

As explained above, it is important to keep salt water on the skin to a minimum. To minimize the symptoms of rosacea, it is important that this rinse takes place as quickly as possible. In addition, the use of soothing creams and a good after sun lotion are indicated. Finally, drinking plenty of water ensures proper skin hydration. These treatments help prepare the skin to deal with the stress caused by the sun, wind and salinity.

Font: Professor Antonino Di Pietro

In addition to the skin, seawater is also good for your health!

As previously reported, seawater has many natural components. Therefore, it can be considered a complete mineral water. In combination with the marine climate, this water has a therapeutic value with unique effects. Its revitalizing action can be felt throughout our body.

To better understand seawater, it is important to better understand what it is made of.

Chemical composition of seawater

The main characteristic of sea water is its salinity. It averages 350, or 35 g/l, which is about three generous tablespoons of salt in a liter of water. Of that, approximately 270 is composed of NaCl (sodium chloride). The rest consists of salts of magnesium, calcium and potassium. The composition of salts contained in seawater is almost constant in all the seas of the world. Concentration can vary depending on latitude and seasons.

The sea is the salt of our planet

The salinity of seawater is lower in the Baltic Sea and higher in the tropical ones – due to strong evaporation. For example, in the Mediterranean Sea, salinity ranges from 36 to 39 grams for each liter. In the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, there is a slightly higher salinity.

The lowest salinity is found in Black Sea waters and near the mouths of large rivers. On the other hand, the average salinity of surface waters increases significantly in the three oceans: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific.

Seawater and its pH

Just as we previously told about how pH works and its relation with our skin and hair, seawater also has its own pH. It is considered alkaline as it has a pH between 7.5 and 8.4. Therefore, it neutralizes the acidity of both skin and hair. And that’s why it also requires care, with balanced shampoo and conditioner to maintain the pH balance.

It is always recommended to use a good pH balanced shampoo and conditioner after bathing in the seawater.

Font: Fontenova