Is beach water good for your skin?

21 de junio de 2022

Whether you like to swim in the ocean or read a book on the sand, everyone loves a day at the beach. The cool blue water and salty smell in the air are drawing you into the water. Did you know that a trip to the beach can have hundreds of benefits for your skin? After one trip to the beach you will notice changes to your skin other than your fingers turning into prunes. Discover the pros/cons of beach water for our skin, the skin types that would benefit the most from beach water, and the answer to the question is beach water good for your skin?

Pros of beach water

Something cool about the ocean is that seawater is a natural cleanser! The ocean helps exfoliate your skin and scrub away all the old skin cells naturally and healthily. The saltwater from the ocean naturally absorbs bacteria from your skin, allowing your pores to be cleansed. Thanks to the 47 types of minerals found in the ocean, it is the perfect natural gentle exfoliator. Exfoliation is amazing for your skin as it buffs away dead skin cells allowing for your silky smooth skin to shine. Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every month, which is another reason to be buffing your skin. You cannot beat a free exfoliation! Sea water can help clean wounds as well. If you have a small cut or skin exposure, salt water supplies a drying effect which helps the wound close and grow a new layer of skin tissue quickly. The key word being small, it is not recommended to pollute the ocean water with your bodily fluids as an alternative to taking care of your wound.

Skin types that would benefit from beach water

Sensitive skin:

People with sensitive skin would benefit from a trip to the ocean as the ocean contains various amounts of minerals that help soothe and reduce inflammation in the skin. Bathing or soaking in sea salt water is amazing to help soothe drying skin conditions such as psoriasis - even before they start. If you do not live near a beach or a body of salt water, taking a sea salt bath is a great alternative. You can purchase sea salt or Epsom salt in stores and online. As previously mentioned, salt water is a good natural exfoliate, however those with sensitive skin need to regulate how much their skin is being exfoliate as it does not become irritated. Continue being gentle on your skin and moisturize and use plenty of sunscreen.

Oily skin:

If you have oily skin, you need a beach trip asap! Saltwater from the ocean will help absorb unnecessary oils from your skin which is fantastic for those suffering from acne-prone skin. Saltwater contains minerals such as calcium and potassium, which help clean and dry out any bacteria that cause acne. Remember that there are healthy and natural oils your skin produces, and it is not great to constantly remove all your oils. In reality, when you remove the healthy oils from your face, your skin starts producing more oil to make up for the ones you took off. If you are going to the beach, remember you still need to protect your skin from the sun and potential burning.

Cons of beach water

Although there are multiple reasons why beach water is beneficial for your skin, there are also downsides to using beach water on your skin. Whether we like to admit it or not, the oceans are extremely polluted. As of 2022, for every square mile there are over 45,000 individual pieces or trash. Every year we add over 25 million tons of plastic to the ocean. Tash is not the only pollution in the ocean city run-off and wastewater swim freely in our oceans. It is important that we take care of our ocean so we can all experience the wonderful and natural benefits it provides to brighten our skin and our days. Additionally, too much of anything is bad for you so do not spend too much time in the ocean as overexposure will lead to drying and irritation of the skin.