The Dead Sea is a salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Palestine land the West Bank to the west. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River.

For Thousands of years, The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the world, as it is one of the World’s First Health Resorts and has been a supplier of a wide range of products.

Over millions of years, the hot dry air and high evaporation rate have contributed to the high salt concentration present in the Dead Sea, making it one of the saltiest lakes in the world. Compared to the 3% salt content of ordinary sea water, researchers claim that the Dead Sea water contains 32% salts with relatively high concentration of 21 minerals such as magnesium, calcium, bromide and potassium. Twelve of these minerals are not found in another other sea or ocean. The Dead Sea has long been a source of ingredients in skin care products with the ability to soothe-inflamed skin.

1. Helps improve psoriasis

Dead Sea mud can be applied as a compress to psoriasis flares. Researchers have established Trusted Source that the high concentrations of salt and other chemical compounds in the mud can be used to treat psoriasis effectively.

Using Dead Sea mud as a mud compress in areas where your psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis is, can decrease symptoms and relieve pain caused by inflammation.

2. Reduces skin impurities

If you have dry skin, try a Dead Sea mud mask. Mud masks can work to remove impurities and dead skin on your body.

An added benefit of Dead Sea mud is that the salt and magnesium in it can improve your skin’s functionality by making it a better barrier and more elastic. Dead Sea salt has also been shown Trusted Source as a treatment to make skin healthier.

3. Provides relief for arthritis

In one older experiment Trusted Source, heated mud packs were applied to the extremities of people with arthritis for 20 minutes, once per day, over a span of 2 weeks. This study used Dead Sea mud and people saw a marked decrease in their arthritis symptoms that lasted up to three months.

People with inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, are more likely to experience this benefit.

4. Helps soothe chronic back pain

Data from a 2014 study, Trusted Source indicated that a Dead Sea mud compress applied five times a week for three consecutive weeks, led to a significant improvement in symptoms for people with chronic lower back pain. Further research is still needed with a greater sample size to confirm these findings.

5. Helps treat acne

Dead Sea mud has been tested, trusted source and proven to have an antimicrobial effect on strains of bacteria that live on human skin. Since overgrowth or presence of certain bacteria can lead to acne, it’s possible that this is why Dead Sea mud has been used to treat breakouts since biblical times.

Using Dead Sea mud in a mud mask, or getting face creams and lotions that contain Dead Sea mud, might help you to have fewer breakouts.

Risks and side effects

• Dead Sea mud should only be used externally. Consuming Dead Sea mug in large amounts can have a toxic effect.
• There are some people who have skin sensitivities to metals; such as nickel and chrome. Since trace elements of some metals can sometimes be found in Dead Sea mud, people with these sensitivities might want to avoid using Dead Sea mud as a topical treatment or home remedy.
• Nevertheless, research indicates that most people with healthy skin do not need to be concerned about using Dead Sea mud on their skin.

Takeaway

Dead Sea mud isn’t a replacement for prescription medication for diagnosed conditions. But it is a very low-risk way to treat some conditions, boost skin health, and is safe for most people.

Dead Sea mud has been proven to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful in mud packs and cosmetics. If you’re worried about a sensitivity, talk to your doctor or a dermatologist before using a Dead Sea mud product. Always be sure to test a small area of your skin before applying any new product.