Can Sea Salt Really Clear Your Acne

We're all aware that TikTok is rife with skin-care tips, some useful, some dangerous, and some downright bizarre. As one might expect, the app recently unearthed yet another too-good-to-be-true tip for permanently removing acne. A user has received over four million views for a video of her dramatic clear-skin transformation, which she achieved with a sea salt water treatment.

Yes, spraying a mixture of sea salt and water on her face twice a day cured her adult acne after she'd tried everything else. She got this tip from another TikTok creator who started using a sea salt concoction after noticing that swimming in the ocean cleared up her skin. Both claim that the remedy works because it balances the pH of the skin and kills bacteria.

But you know me: whenever a viral beauty hack goes viral, I'm going to ruin the party by digging in to research facts and my hard and honest opinions. I'm sorry, but that's my job! Is sea salt water a good acne treatment? According to some dermatologists, it may work in theory, but it is not a long-term solution for pimples or scars. When it comes to a dermatologist in Mumbai and the sun and sea, the situation is complicated.

Actual ocean water, specifically magnesium-based ocean water, is a panacea, or a cure-all. Acne sufferers may benefit anecdotally from this tincture's exfoliative and pore-cleansing properties. In theory, the salt can draw out oils and dry out pimples. However, sea salt water mixed at home and water directly from the ocean are two very different things. There is no science here yet. I believe there are numerous other options that would be preferable.

And, when it comes to something as important as your skin, I strongly advise you to avoid do-it-yourself solutions at all costs. While this at-home remedy may be effective on the surface, relying on it in place of other important parts of your routine may make matters worse in the long run.

At best, sea salt water may help with mild skin inflammation and redness; however, I do not consider this a viable acne treatment and would not recommend it. I am concerned that those who use this as a treatment may end up delaying proper dermatological care, resulting in additional hyperpigmentation and potential scarring.

Those claims about pH balance and bacteria control aren't even true on a deeper level. The pH of sea water is 8 (alkaline). Acne-prone skin has an alkaline pH as well. If anything, you should use an acidic pH to balance the skin, which is why we use glycolic acid and salicylic acid to help with skin problems. Although sea salt water has an antimicrobial effect, it is not strong enough to kill acne.

So, while people may see visible results from a sea salt water acne treatment, it's not for the reasons they believe — it's mostly a matter of exfoliation and anti-inflammation, which can be achieved with a variety of actual skin-care products.