Dead Sea minerals: 2,000 years of use and what the research shows.

The Dead Sea is the saltiest body of water on earth — approximately 10 times saltier than ocean water. It sits at the lowest point on earth’s surface, over 400 metres below sea level. These conditions create a unique mineral environment that has been used therapeutically since at least the time of Herod the Great, who reportedly had a villa on its shores and used its waters for medicinal purposes.

Cleopatra is said to have had cosmetic preparations made from Dead Sea minerals. Roman soldiers used the mud for wound treatment. The Jewish historian Josephus described the therapeutic properties of the waters in the first century CE.

This is a long documented history. What does the research say about the mechanisms behind it?

The mineral composition.

Dead Sea water contains unusually high concentrations of magnesium, calcium, potassium, and bromide compared to ocean water. Regular ocean water is approximately 85% sodium chloride. Dead Sea water is significantly lower in sodium chloride and much higher in these other minerals.

Magnesium is particularly relevant for skin. Research has shown that topical magnesium improves skin hydration and reduces trans-epidermal water loss. A 2005 study published in the International Journal of Dermatology found that bathing in Dead Sea salt solution significantly improved skin barrier function and reduced redness and roughness in patients with atopic dry skin.

The clinical research.

Dead Sea therapy — spending time at the Dead Sea for exposure to the water, mud, and the unique atmosphere (higher atmospheric pressure, lower UV radiation due to the extra atmospheric distance, high bromide content in the air) — has been studied primarily for skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema, and psoriatic arthritis.

The research on psoriasis at the Dead Sea is among the most consistent in dermatology. Multiple studies show significant improvement in psoriasis severity scores following Dead Sea treatment protocols. The European Dermatology Forum includes Dead Sea climatotherapy in its treatment guidelines for psoriasis.

For eczema and general skin dryness, the evidence is positive but less conclusive. The barrier-supporting properties of the magnesium content are biologically plausible and supported by the 2005 study above, but large randomised controlled trials are limited.