Dead Sea Salts vs Magnesium Flakes

• What are magnesium flakes?
• What are Dead Sea salts?
• How are they different?
• How do the benefits of magnesium flakes and Dead Sea salts compare?
• What’s the best way to use the salts?

What are magnesium flakes?

Magnesium flakes and bath salts are small flakes of magnesium chloride you dissolve in water. As you relax in the bath or soak your feet, the magnesium absorbs through your skin, meaning you benefit from its therapeutic properties quickly.

Some of the benefits of magnesium flakes include the following:

• Supports healthy bones
• Supports skin health
• Helps you relax before going to sleep
• Relieves muscle tension

What are Dead Sea salts?

Dead Sea salts are mineral salts extracted from the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a popular salt lake located between Jordan, Israel and Palestine.

Dead sea salts differ from sea salt and regular table salt in that they have an off-white colour and contain much less sodium. However, they are abundant in many other minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and bromide.

Due to the mineral-rich composition, these salts have become famous for their healing properties. Many people still visit the Dead Sea each year to soak in its waters to feel the relaxing properties. The salts are also sold in stores as products for skincare and promoting general good health. Just like transdermal magnesium supplements, Dead sea salts absorb into the skin, leaving it smooth and hydrated.

Benefits of Dead sea salts, they:

• Are transdermal—absorbable through the skin.
• Dissolve in water, meaning you can add them to your bath as a way to increase your magnesium intake.

How are Dead Sea salts and magnesium different?

The main difference between magnesium flakes and Dead Sea salts is in what they consist of:

Magnesium + chloride

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Magnesium flakes

Magnesium + several other minerals (potassium, calcium, sulphur, bromide etc)

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Dead Sea salts

Dead Sea Salts contain vital minerals, which allow for these salts to be used for a wider range of ailments such as improving blood circulation. When harnessing the benefits of magnesium, the Dead sea salts are less effective than magnesium flakes.

Magnesium flakes are a pure form of magnesium chloride, known as Zechstein magnesium, so have a higher concentration of magnesium. In BetterYou’s magnesium bath flakes range we guarantee at least 47% magnesium mineral quality. Dead Sea salts are composed of 21 different minerals and so are likely to contain a lower concentration of magnesium.

How do the benefits of magnesium flakes and Dead Sea salts compare?

Magnesium flakes and Dead Sea salts have largely the same effects and health benefits. Both products contain a high level of magnesium and they help to:

• Support normal joint function.
• Relieve muscle tension.
• Hydrate skin.
• Relieve physical stress and fatigue.

Dead Sea salts’ impact on skin health is often emphasised. Just like magnesium flakes, Dead Sea salts can offer a range of benefits to make your skin feel great. They hydrate the skin, improve the skin barrier function and soothe irritated skin.

Skin health and skin barrier function

Many people suffer from skin irritation. Whether that is dry, rough, red, or itchy skin. This can be caused by sun damage, humidity and a host of other factors. Magnesium flakes, Dead Sea salts and skin supplements can help relieve these unpleasant symptoms.

Soaking regularly in water treated with one, or more, of these products is known to nourish, replenish and hydrate the skin. These salts can also repair the skin's barrier function (the outermost layer of the skin that ensures essential water and electrolytes don’t evaporate from your body).

Transepidermal water loss and skin hydration

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is water that’s naturally lost through the skin. This water is lost because of the environment and the state of the skin itself. Things like low humidity, or a burn or injury to the skin, can affect TEWL.

This isn’t the same as sweat. TEWL is a passive mechanism and the moisture doesn’t originate in the sweat glands. Sweat is an active mechanism designed to cool the body down. Measuring the amount of TEWL is a useful way to understand how healthy your skin is. By including quality skincare products such as magnesium flakes or Dead Sea salts into your routine can help you maintain healthy TEWL levels.

Joint flexibility

The minerals in magnesium flakes and Dead Sea salts have been shown to support joint flexibility. The salts enable the blood to circulate more freely, which in turn reduces swelling and relaxes the muscles. It is for this reason why magnesium helps aid sleep.

Magnesium flakes can help maintain normal bone health by encouraging calcium absorption. We recommend using magnesium flakes and a magnesium and calcium mineral lotion if you’re having particular trouble with your bones.

Sore muscles and sports recovery

Soaking in Dead Sea salts or magnesium flakes can help soothe sore muscles and contribute to your recovery after playing sports. Magnesium’s role in sports recovery is often overlooked but magnesium has vital everyday benefits:

• Supports electrolyte balance.
• Contributes to a natural boost of energy.
• Aids normal protein synthesis.
• Contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

What’s the best way to use them?

Both magnesium flakes and Dead Sea salts are transdermal products. Transdermal means the product absorbs into your skin when you take a bath or soak your feet.

Are Dead Sea salts the same as Epsom salts?

No. Dead Sea salts come from the Dead Sea, while Epsom salts were first found naturally near Epsom in Surrey. There are other notable differences, the main one being their composition structure.

While Dead Sea salts are made up of salt (sodium chloride) and more than 20 minerals, Epsom salts contain no salt at all. They gain their name because they resemble salt crystals and have similar properties. Traditionally, these salts form when high levels of magnesium and sulphate combine in water.

Most Epsom salts you find today are man-made. Although there are still natural sources in Europe and the US. An issue with these salts that occur naturally in open water is that they can be exposed to man-made pollutants and heavy metals. This exposure can be a question mark over their purity.

While it’s safe to take small amounts of these salts orally or by enema to treat constipation, Dead Sea salts can be harmful if consumed or used in the same way. It is always best to check the packaging for the best application method. Our magnesium products are easy and effective to use.

Can you mix magnesium flakes with Dead Sea salts or Epsom salts?

Yes. Many skin care professionals recommend blending different types of bath salts so you get the benefits of all of them. Magnesium supplements can provide nutrients orally but using magnesium flakes and Dead Sea salts together penetrate through the skin quicker. Other blends you can try include:

• Magnesium flakes with essential oils—e.g. chamomile, clary sage, lavender oil.
• Bath salts with essential oils—e.g. clary sage, lavender oil or ylang ylang.
• Bath salts with bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)—bicarbonate of soda helps heal the skin and is often used to treat topical conditions.

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