Does Ocean Water Help Acne?

As any acne-sufferer knows, dealing with constant breakouts is no day at the beach. However, if you're looking for an all-natural solution to help clear up your skin, an occasional dip in the ocean's salty water may help reduce the look of acne. According to HubPages.com, sodium chloride is an excellent cleansing agent that can help clear up mild acne. The thought process behind this theory is that salt water is known for it's antibacterial properties as well as it's ability to help cleanse wounds and sores. Basically, salt is such a powerful drying agent that it can help to deprive bacteria cells of moisture, which effectively kills them off, according to ProgressiveHealth.com.

However, this doesn't mean that you should turn to salt water as an end-all cure solution for your acne. While salt does have the power to dry out any bumps or zits, it also dries out the rest of your skin. Leaving your skin without it's natural oils can actually cause the oil glands in your skin to go into overdrive, and produce even more oil. That vicious cycle can eventually lead to clogged pores and even more acne spots.

Also, be aware that salt does have the ability to linger on the skin, if it isn't cleansed properly. Be sure to use an exfoliant or a loofa after the beach to slough away any remaining sea salt.

While the theories behind salt water as an acne remedy do have a lot of logical reasoning behind them, there is no scientific evidence to support the use of ocean water as a curing acne treatment, according to ProgressiveHealth.com.

However, that doesn't mean that salt water isn't beneficial to the skin. The drying power coupled with the antibacterial properties of the salt can help to clear away pesky skin bacteria. Just be sure to properly cleanse and moisturize your skin after a day at the beach in order to reap the benefits of the salty water, while still protecting your skin from potential damage.

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