Skin Health Skin Care & Cleansing Products Anti-Aging Skin Care What Are Epsom Salts? A Natural Remedy for Sore Muscles, Constipation, and More By Mark Stibich, PhD twitter linkedin Mark Stibich, PhD, FIDSA, is a behavior change expert with experience helping individuals make lasting lifestyle improvements. Learn about our editorial process Mark Stibich, PhD Fact checked by Fact checked by Ashley Hall on December 07, 2020 linkedin Ashley Hall is a writer and fact checker who has been published in multiple medical journals in the field of surgery. Learn about our editorial process Ashley Hall on December 07, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Uses Side Effects Epsom salts are naturally occurring chemical compounds known scientifically as magnesium sulfate. They are called "salts" because of their crystalline chemical structure. In fact, they look very much like very coarse salt you'd find in the kitchen but they are not meant for cooking with. 4nadia / Getty Images Soaking in Epsom salts has long been touted as a natural remedy for sore muscles, minor sprains, swollen feet, irritated or scaly skin, minor bruises, and overall muscle soreness or mental stress. What Are Epsom Salts? Epsom salts are a naturally occurring chemical compound named after a saline spring in Surrey, England. The scientific name for Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate. Uses Epsom salts may be added to water for soaking in, taken orally to treat constipation, or used for cosmetic purposes. Topical When used topically, Epsom salts typically are added to warm water in a tub for a full-body soak or to a footbath or small tub for treating an individual body part. Epsom salt soaks are often used to: Soothe itchiness from poison ivy and mosquito bitesSoften skin affected by psoriasisCleanse and soothe lesions from genital herpes and alleviate itchinessEase arthritis pain and swellingBruises and sprainsHeal and cleanse tears or stitches in the perineum after childbirthEase musculoskeletal pain and tenderness caused by fibromyalgiaTreat ingrown toenailsPromote sleep in people with insomniaRelieve soreness from diarrhea during chemotherapyEase redness and pain from sunburn Soaking in Epsom salts has been touted as a way to reverse magnesium deficiency, but there is no evidence it can be absorbed through the skin. Adding magnesium-rich foods to the diet or taking an oral magnesium supplement with a doctor's oversight is more effective. Oral The only use for Epsom salts approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is as an osmotic laxative to relieve occasional constipation. Pure Epsom salts (that do not contain fragrance or other additives) can be taken orally by adults and children 12 and older. The typical dose of Epsom salts for constipation is 2 to 4 teaspoons dissolved in 8 ounces of water, no more than two doses per day. This should result in a bowel movement within a half hour to six hours. If it doesn't, it may be advisable to see a doctor. How Much Magnesium Do You Need in Your Diet? Cosmetic Hair and body treatments using Epsom salts include: Hair volumizer: Apply equal parts warm hair conditioner and Epsom salts to hair and leave on for 20 minutes.Facial wash: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom salts into cleansing cream for deep-pore cleansing. Massage onto skin, rinse with cool water, and pat dry.Exfoliator: Sprinkle Epsom salts into your palm, dampen them, and gently massage into your skin. You can also try this with wet skin after showering. What Is a Magnesium Test? Side Effects Epsom salts should be used with some caution. When used topically they can dry out skin, which could be especially problematic in cold weather and for people with naturally dry skin. Start with just a little salt (1/4 cup) in the bath and gradually increase as tolerated. Monitor your skin closely for dryness, and be sure to moisturize the skin after a soak. Taken orally, Epsom salts can cause diarrhea, discomfort, and dehydration. Talk to your doctor before using Epsom salts as a laxative if you have kidney disease, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting, or if you've had a sudden change in your bowel habits that has lasted more than two weeks. Epsom salts should not be used by those who are on a magnesium-restricted diet. A Word From Verywell Natural remedies are popular for many reasons and Epsom salts are no exception. Despite the dearth of research to support the usefulness of soaking in Epsom salts, there are a variety of uses for Epsom salts believed to be safe and effective. If you're thinking of using Epsom salts in any way other than as a soak for sore muscles or to help you unwind, get your doctor's OK first. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institutes of Health DailyMed. Label: Epsom salt magnesium sulfate. Updated December 17, 2019. Cleveland Clinic. 6 best fixes for pain and swelling in your feet and ankles. October 7, 2019. American Academy of Dermatology. Genital herpes: Diagnosis and treatment. 2020. Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K. Myth or reality—transdermal magnesium?. Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. doi:10.3390/nu9080813 Epsom Salt Council. Summer Skin Care Tips. 2020. National Psoriasis Foundation. Herbs and natural remedies. Updated June 18, 2019. Cleveland Clinic. 7 things you probably didn't know about Epsom salt. July 20, 2018.