ABSTRACT
Use of mineral spa water and seawater has been and continues to be a common treatment modality for inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and irritant contact dermatitis. Spa water and seawater are noted for their relatively high concentrations of minerals such as strontium and selenium and for their high osmolarity relative to physiological saline (Table 1). Despite widespread use, few studies explore what aspect of seawater accounts for its therapeutic effect and what is its mechanism of action. Recent studies are summarized in Table 2 (1-4).
