Does Magnesium Help Eczema?

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Eczema is an inflammatory condition that can cause skin to become sore, itchy, dry, red, and cracked. For some people, eczema is mildly irritating. However, for others, it can become painful and severely impact self-esteem.

There’s a link in the scientific skincare world between the mineral magnesium and eczema. Magnesium deficiency is not usually the root cause of itchy skin conditions. However, using magnesium cream for eczema and a magnesium supplement for eczema could help alleviate the symptoms. 

Stay tuned to discover what magnesium does for the skin and the best magnesium eczema products.

What is magnesium?

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Magnesium is a silvery-white mineral that can be crushed into a powder. It’s responsible for a multitude of bodily functions, including balancing the nervous system, sleep, muscle growth, bone strength, the immune system, and blood pressure. Magnesium also plays an essential role in healthy skin development and maintenance.

Can magnesium help heal eczema?

The real question is, can magnesium help eczema? The general consensus is yes -  it may well contribute to reducing eczema symptoms. Here’s how:

Anti-inflammatory to soothe redness

Eczema breakouts are caused by inflammation, often triggered by scratchy materials, harsh soaps, stress, and ingredients that disrupt the skin barrier. Magnesium is enriched with antioxidants that lower inflammation in your cells. This helps to soothe your skin by minimising soreness, redness, and dryness.

Promotes sleep to repair irritated and dry skin cells

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Sleep is one of the most important things you can do for healthy skin, including lowering eczema symptoms. While you sleep, your body goes through a natural renewal process, shedding old skin cells and replenishing them with new ones. New skin cells can tighten your lipid barrier and heal skin cell damage, reducing redness and itching.

Magnesium contributes to the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, which enables you to fall asleep faster and experience better sleep quality and duration. Therefore, taking a magnesium supplement for eczema or applying magnesium gel or lotion onto your skin before bed could benefit eczema sufferers.

Supports a healthy skin barrier for moisturised skin

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Magnesium contributes to the natural production of ceramides - lipids that make up the skin barrier. A healthy lipid barrier seals in hydration and moisture to lower irritation and dryness. 

Eczema is a sign of a disrupted skin barrier, so taking a magnesium supplement or a topical treatment such as a magnesium lotion could help. In fact, a 2016 study found that a cream containing a combination of ceramides and magnesium reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema.

Can recover dry and cracked skin

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Magnesium helps your body produce natural fats that form the outer layer of your skin (known as the derma or lipid barrier). A compromised lipid barrier is often due to inflammation, causing the skin’s surface to become cracked and irritable. This lets moisture escape, creating dryness and flaking.

Magnesium contributes to healing the outer layers of your skin to rehydrate and repair dry and cracked skin caused by eczema. However, it is inadvisable to rub certain skincare products onto broken skin. So, always check the label or begin from the inside out with magnesium supplements.

Reduces stress to minimise eczema flare-ups

Stress inflames skin cells, which can cause eczema flare-ups and breakouts. Taking magnesium supplements can balance hormones and the nervous system. This lowers the overproduction of stress hormones and reduces the severity of eczema or the risk of flare-ups.

Best magnesium products for eczema and dry skin

You can use topical treatments, like magnesium lotion for eczema, and internal treatments, such as a magnesium supplement for eczema. Keep reading for our top magnesium skin care products and supplements for eczema.

Magnesium cream for eczema

MooGoo Eczema Cream contains ceramides to repair a damaged lipid barrier and calm irritation. It’s also combined with magnesium to soften and hydrate skin, reducing the redness and inflammation associated with eczema.

Alternatively, try MooGoo’s Magnesium Moisturiser to reduce swelling and itchiness. It’s a high-strength magnesium moisturiser containing the electrolyte Magnesium Chloride. The milky, gel-like moisturiser replenishes the lipid barrier to lower the symptoms of irritable skin and revitalises its natural softness.

Magnesium salt bath for eczema

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A magnesium bath for eczema can calm eczema symptoms. Magnesium salts or flakes sleuth away dry, dead skin cells, lower inflammation and soothe the skin. A 2005 study found that participants who bathed in magnesium salts saw a significant reduction in skin redness and roughness of the skin. They also benefitted from better lipid barrier function and hydration for softer skin.

How to have a magnesium salt bath for eczema

Add 1-2 cups of magnesium to a bathtub of running water for a Magnesium Flakes eczema bath. Ensure the flakes are dissolved, then soak in the warm water for 20 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times a week for reduced eczema symptoms and satin-smooth skin. 

Magnesium lotion for eczema

A topical treatment with magnesium can lower redness and swelling of the skin. A 2016 study applied a cream with 2% magnesium to children with diaper dermatitis. It helped reduce redness and inflammation, making it an effective treatment for irritated skin.

BetterYou Magnesium Body Lotion is scientifically formulated to improve skin cell flexibility and soften dry skin. It’s also ideal for anyone with sensitive skin - who are often eczema-prone. The magnesium lotion is infused with enriching shea butter to deeply nourish and condition skin, improving dryness caused by eczema.

A magnesium lotion right before bed can also promote sleep to help heal eczema. If that’s how you would like to use a magnesium eczema skincare product, we recommend trying the BetterYou Magnesium Sleep Lotion. Not only does it use magnesium to lower inflammation, but it’s also infused with the sleep-inducing properties of lavender and chamomile.

Magnesium gel for eczema

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A gel with magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin to increase magnesium levels and lower skin irritation. Just 1ml of BetterYou Magnesium Gel provides your body with a minimum of 100mg of bioavailable magnesium, and a single teaspoon gives you a whopping 500mg of magnesium. Smooth the gel into problem areas to enhance magnesium levels and calm itchy, aggravated skin. 

Magnesium spray eczema

If you don’t like the feel of creams, try a magnesium oil and eczema spray. The BetterYou Magnesium Oil Original Spray is a pure, strong magnesium oil that absorbs rapidly into the skin. Spray it on your skin before bed for better sleep, or use it on hard-to-reach eczema patches like your back.

Magnesium supplement for eczema

The connection between eczema and magnesium deficiency is because a lack of the mineral can imbalance hormones and affect sleep. Taking Magnesium Supplements daily can balance an eczema magnesium deficiency and improve eczema symptoms.

Soothe eczema with a magnesium lotion or magnesium supplements

Use the power of magnesium to heal cracked, dry, itchy, flaky and red skin caused by eczema. Check out our range of magnesium skincare products, including moisturisers, lotions, gels and sprays. Soak in a magnesium flake bath or balance your magnesium levels internally with a supplement. Soothe your eczema today with Grape Tree.