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Should You Shower After an Epsom Salt Bath?

Epsom salt in your bathwater is an old trick to soothe tired bodies and sore muscles.

But Epsom salt can also lead to dry skin and skin irritation in those with sensitive skins. So should you shower after an Epsom salts bath?

Magnesium in Epsom salts heals and repairs your muscles and skin. But bathing in Epsom salts can leave a deposit of the minerals on your skin, which can have a drying effect after the bath. Showering and rinsing the Epsom salts deposit from your skin after your bath is a good idea to decrease the skin-drying effects.

Find out how to take a shower after an Epsom salt bath to prevent or minimize the chances of having a negative reaction to an Epsom salt.

epsom salt

Why It Is Important to Shower After Soaking in an Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom salt is usually considered safe for general use and is widely available for the purchase of taking a detox bath. However, Epsom salt can have some unpleasant side effects when used in a bath.

If you are allergic to the magnesium sulfate in Epsom salt, it is possible that you can have negative reactions or experience conditions like itchy skin, hives and rashes, and even skin infections.

Should you take a bath in Epsom salt water and your skin is broken or you are already having an allergic reaction, the magnesium sulfate can exacerbate the reaction.

To prevent or minimize the chances of having a negative reaction to an Epsom salt bath, it is important to shower and rinse off the residual Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate from your skin after soaking.

How to Take a Shower After an Epsom Salt Bath

The simplest and safest way to remove excess Epsom salt on your skin is to take a water-only rinse (no soap) in the shower after soaking in Epsom salt in your bath.

While many users of Epsom salt baths have no adverse effects by simply towel drying their bodies directly after an Epsom salt bath, it may still be best to shower and rinse your body after soaking in an Epsom salt bath.

When soaking in an Epsom salt bath and even when showering to rinse off after the bath, it is best not to use any soap or chemicals as this can alter the chemical composition of the Epsom salt.

Instead, simply rinse with lukewarm water until the slick feeling of the Epsom salt deposits on your skin has diminished.

An added benefit of rinsing after taking a detox bath with Epsom salt is that some of the toxins in your body may flush through your skin.

Rinsing after the detox bath will remove these toxins and prevent them from being reabsorbed into the body.

FAQ

Should I shower before an Epsom salt bath?

It is not necessary to shower before an Epsom salt bath unless you have recently applied a thick barrier cream like Vaseline or baby lotion. This may prevent the Epsom salt from fully interacting with your skin.

A benefit of showering before an Epsom salt bath is that the hot water will open the pores of your skin more, allowing the Epsom salt to work better and offer a more intense detox effect.

Should I moisturize after an Epsom salt bath?

After an Epsom salt bath, it is necessary to seal in the moisture in your skin.

While Epsom salt baths will soften your skin and aid in exfoliation, the magnesium sulfate can also dry out the skin.

Finishing up with a rinse and then applying a good quality moisturizer will help retain your skin’s natural moisture.

When choosing a moisturizer, it is best to go for a natural moisturizer like coconut or jojoba oil.

If you have to rely on a cosmetic product, be sure to rinse first as any excess Epsom salt can mix with the lotion and have a negative effect.

How do you take an Epsom salt bath?

Taking an Epsom salt bath should be preceded by a skin sensitivity test if you have never before taken an Epsom salt bath before.

Simply rub some Epsom salt onto a damp patch of skin, leave for 10 minutes, and check if you have an allergic reaction or not.

If your skin is unbothered, you can proceed to fill a bath with hot water at a temperature you can comfortably handle.

Add 2-4 cups of Epsom salt to the water, adding it under the running tap water so the magnesium sulfate can dissolve. Soak up the Epsom salt goodness for 10-20 minutes.

Rinse in a lukewarm shower after the bath if you want to apply body care products that are scented or have lots of parabens in to avoid any chemical reactions.

Moisturize your skin to lock in moisture and prevent dehydration or dry skin.

Chantelle Farrell

Chantelle is a professional cosmetologist who runs her own skin care clinic Amaranthine Aesthetics. She specializes in anti-aging treatment and natural skin care procedures that restore skin beauty and keep it healthy over time.

As a skin care expert, Chantelle enjoys sharing her advice about reliable skin care products, techniques, and aftercare procedures. She believes that everyone should take care of their body and skin and can do that effectively when armed with proper knowledge.

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At Loo Academy, our mission is to offer trusted advice for everything related to bathrooms (design ideas, plumbing advice, showering & bathing tips, remodeling guides, and more) — a place where we all spend a great deal of time.

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