Healed My Lifelong Eczema with Daily Seawater Soaks and Salt Therapy

My Lifelong Battle With Severe Eczema and Inflamed Skin

I struggled with terrible eczema flare-ups since infancy that made my skin chronically red, intensely itchy, scaly, and painfully cracked despite endless rounds of steroid creams and medications. The nonstop irritation severely affected my sleep and self-confidence growing up.

The Triggers Behind My Eczema Flare-Ups

Doctors told me my overactive immune system reactions and deficient skin barrier function caused the flares. Specific triggers included:

• Exposure to allergens like pollens, molds, dust mites
• Sudden temperature changes
• Stress and fatigue
• Some fabrics and soaps

I went through painful skin patch testing to identify my environmental allergy triggers then avoided them rigorously to no avail. My eczema always found ways to erupt regardless.

How Seawater Immersion Finally Healed My Lifelong Eczema

During my early 20s, out of desperation, I started taking vacations to tropical beach locations and spending hours immersed chest-deep in warm ocean water daily. Amazingly, the saltwater immersion always calmed my erupted skin and kept flares at bay for weeks after each trip.

The Science Behind Seawater's Eczema Healing Powers

Research explains the science behind why ocean water can work powerfully to improve eczema:

• The ocean is sterile - it naturally kills bacteria, viruses, fungi
• Seawater is rich in skin-soothing minerals like magnesium, calcium, sulfur
• Salt draws out excess fluid from inflamed eczema skin lesions
• Salt also battles skin infections that trigger flares
• The ocean’s nutrients enhance skin barrier repair and function

My Eczema Virtually Vanished After Moving By the Ocean

Whenever I returned from beach vacations, my severe eczema would eventually recur. So I made the life-changing decision in my late 20s to move permanently to a small town by the ocean where I could immerse daily.

After 3 months of swimming most days, my lifelong eczema had virtually disappeared! My skin looked and felt smooth, calm and healthy for the first time I could remember. I was able to stop using steroid creams and systemics drugs entirely.

Using Seawater Soaks and Salt Therapy to Heal Eczema

You don't need to live oceanfront to harness the healing power of seawater for eczema relief. Other home therapies like saltwater soaks, baths, and salt rooms provide similar benefits.

Soaking in Saltwater at Home

Simply add 2-4 cups of Dead Sea Salt, Epsom salts, Himalayan pink salt or a similar pure salt to a warm tub of water. Soak affected skin for 15-30 minutes to reduce inflammation, kill germs, and help damaged skin heal.

Getting Salt Room Therapy

Many holistic wellness centers now offer salt therapy rooms. Lounging in the microclimate of these rooms allows you to breathe in salt aerosol particles and absorb minerals through your skin which calms eczema flares.

Using Moisturizing Salt Creams

Hydrating creams containing Dead Sea salt, red algae and natural oils absorb deeply to moisturize, protect, and restore distressed eczema prone skin between soak sessions.

My Anti-Inflammatory, Skin-Healing Lifestyle Habits

While sea soaking proved the pivotal eczema healing therapy for me, nurturing my skin daily with these additional lifestyle measures keeps flares continually suppressed:

My Go-To Soothing Topicals

• Colloidal oatmeal cream
• Calendula herbal oil
• Virgin coconut oil
• Shea butter

An Eczema-Friendly Anti-Inflammatory Diet

• Omega-3 & vitamin D rich seafoods
• Colorful fruits and vegetables
• Prebiotics to support healthy skin microbiome
• Herbal teas high in antioxidants

Additional Healing Lifestyle Habits

• Stress relief through yoga, meditation, nature
• 7+ hours nightly sleep
• Cotton clothes, fragrance free laundry soap
• Saying "no" and setting boundaries to avoid burnout

My entire lifestyle now revolves around supporting my skin's health and preventing the endless cycle of eczema flares.

Common Questions and Myths About Saltwater Soaking Benefits

Is soaking my skin in saltwater safe?

Yes, for most people saltwater is very safe and beneficial for skin. Start with shorter soak times and increase gradually as your skin adjusts. It may temporarily sting cracked skin.

How often should I soak for eczema?

Daily 20 minute soaks work well for active flares. Reduce frequency to 2-3 times a week once inflammation calms to prevent excess drying. Gentle moisturizing afterwards helps too.

What concentration salt should the water be?

The ideal ratio is around 2 cups salt per gallon of water, similar to ocean salinity. Sea salt or Epsom salt blends work well. Start with less salt if skin stings initially.

Final Thoughts on Saltwater Immersion Healing Eczema

Seawater therapy enabled me to finally suppress the relentless, treatment resistant full body eczema that ruled my life for over 20 years. Its healing and soothing powers proved far more effective than creams, antibiotics and systemic drugs prescribed over the years.

While immersing in oceans daily may not be practical for everyone, harnessing the therapeutic benefits of saltwater soak sessions at home can significantly calm inflammation and speed healing of distressed skin prone to eczema flares.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.