Balneotherapy and thermal resort in dermatology
review Grade D 2024 Open access
Authors: Gębka-Adamczyk, N., Głogowska-Szeląg, J., Adamczyk, J., Szeląg, M.
Journal: Acta Balneologica 66 (3 (181)) : 198-201
Key Findings
- Narrative review of balneotherapy in dermatology (21 of 41 screened papers included), covering psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, and allergic urticaria
- Proposed mechanism: minerals in balneotherapeutic waters (sulfur, sodium, calcium, magnesium, selenium) exert anti-inflammatory, keratolytic, and immunomodulatory effects on skin
- Psoriasis: magnesium ions inhibit psoriatic epidermal proliferation in vitro and reduce 5-lipoxygenase activity; a saline spa water trial in 71 patients found 29% PASI reduction from water alone vs. 55% when combined with UVB phototherapy
- Atopic dermatitis: sulfur/magnesium/selenium effects were reported to enhance skin barrier function and reduce water loss; an 88-patient thermal-water trial showed improved severity and quality-of-life scores
- Acne: sulfur-rich waters showed antibacterial and keratolytic activity against Cutibacterium acnes in vitro
- Rosacea and allergic urticaria: benefit was proposed but only weakly evidenced; the authors themselves flag both as needing more rigorous trials
A narrative review (not a formally systematic one) summarizing balneotherapy’s proposed dermatological applications, focused on mineral spa waters generally rather than peat specifically. Its most useful content here is mechanistic detail on magnesium ions in psoriasis — inhibiting epidermal proliferation and reducing 5-lipoxygenase activity — and quantified PASI-reduction figures from a saline spa water trial, both more specific than most balneotherapy citations already in this library. Read as general mineral-balneotherapy corroboration, not peat-specific evidence.
balneotherapydermatologypsoriasisatopic-dermatitisacnemineral-deliveryimmunomodulatory