How to Get Rid of Pimples Naturally (Sea Salt Method)

Co-authored by Lisa Bryant, ND and Eric McClure

Last Updated: August 22, 2023 References

If you’re looking for a natural way to treat a pimple, sea salt may be an ingredient worth exploring. Pimples are often caused by oils clogging your pores, and salt naturally absorbs moisture. As a result, sea salt may be able to speed up the healing process. However, it’s important to note that there isn’t a ton of clinical data proving that sea salt is going to get rid of your pimple. All things considered, sea salt isn’t going to do any harm to your skin, so feel free to mix up a face mask or exfoliating wash with sea salt if you’re looking for something natural to speed up the healing process for your pimple.

Question 1 of 8:

Is sea salt good for pimples?

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The logic behind this makes sense, but there's not a ton of evidence it will work. Most of the research on acne and salt focuses on Epsom salts and Dead Sea Salt, but the premise behind sea salt, in general, makes sense. Acne is often caused by a buildup of oils in the skin, and salt dries skin out and absorbs oils, so it makes sense. There isn’t any conclusive evidence that sea salt will do anything for your pimple, but it’s probably not going to hurt anything.^{[1]
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- If possible, use Dead Sea salt instead of regular sea salt. Unlike the standard stuff, there’s a lot more scientific evidence that Dead Sea salt is going to be good for your skin!^{[2]
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  Go to source} Unfortunately, Epsom salts probably aren’t going to have as big an impact.^{[3]
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- The difference between sea salt and regular table salt is that sea salt is made by evaporating salt water, while table salt is usually mined underground.^{[4]
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  Mayo Clinic
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  Go to source} They have the same nutritional value, but sea salt carries all kinds of minerals, like calcium and potassium, which may give your skin a healing boost.^{[5]
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Question 2 of 8:

How do you make a sea salt mask for acne?

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Try mixing salt and honey to create a cleansing face mask. In a bowl, mix 1 tsp (5.5 g) of sea salt with 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of Manuka or medical honey. Rinse your face and then gently work the honey and salt into your skin. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes, and then wash the honey-salt mixture off of your face with cold water. This may help with your pimple by reducing inflammation and removing any excess oils that may be clogging your pores.^{[6]
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- It’s possible that this works mainly because of the honey; the sea salt may not actually be the key ingredient here. Unlike salt, honey has a proven track record of reducing inflammation and soothing skin.^{[7]
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- Manuka and medical-grade honey are scientifically proven to contain antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes them great options for skincare health!^{[8]
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- You can buy Manuka honey from most organic grocery stores, while medical-grade honey is often sold in pharmacies. You can also buy them online.
- Keep the salt and honey away from your eyes.

Question 3 of 8:

Will exfoliating with sea salt help a pimple?

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It might help, but it’s not clear there’s any benefit. There aren't many studies that prove this is effective, but you can try it if you’d like. Mix 1 cup (275 g) of sea salt with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of apricot kernel oil or sweet almond oil. If you’d like, mix a few drops of rosemary or geranium essential oil to the salt and oil. Mix the ingredients together thoroughly and hop in the shower. Gently rub the oily salt into your pimple using soft circular motions and rinse it off before you get out.^{[9]
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- The essential oils may have some minor antimicrobial properties, but they aren’t a cure for your pimples and the impact is mostly going to be minimal.^{[10]
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  Go to source} If you don’t have any rosemary or geranium essential oils, just use the salt and carrier oil.
- If the essential oil irritates your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and discontinue use.
- Don’t use this scrub near your eyes, mouth, or nose.

Question 4 of 8:

Will a salt bath help with acne on my back?

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It might, but there’s not a lot of evidence one way or the other. Soaking in a bath will definitely help you relax, which is great if stress is making your acne worse, and the salt is unlikely to harm your skin. Unfortunately, the only studies on this tend to focus on dry skin and Dead Sea salt baths. While Dead Sea salt baths do appear to be good for your skin, there’s no way to know if regular sea salt baths will improve acne.^{[11]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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- If you want to try a sea salt bath, pour 1/3 cup (82 g) of sea salt into the water while the tub is filling up. Hop in and relax in the warm water for 10-30 minutes before rinsing off.^{[12]
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- Don’t worry about the salt water drying your skin out if you’re only bathing for 10-30 minutes. So long as you moisturize after you get out, it shouldn’t be a big deal.

Question 5 of 8:

Is sea salt the best salt for acne?

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It’s unclear, but most data on this suggests Dead Sea salt is better. Sea salt may be helpful for pimples or it may not. Most of the research on this subject focuses on Epsom salt and Dead Sea Salt. Of those two, it looks like Dead Sea salt might be very beneficial for your skin; it can reduce inflammation, improve dry skin, and revitalize your skin barrier, which is likely going to help with any pimples you get.^{[13]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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- Dead Sea salt refers to any sea salt that has been extracted from the Dead Sea. You can buy this stuff online or from some specialty skincare stores.
- You could use Dead Sea salt the same way you’d use sea salt in a face mask or exfoliating wash.
- The other salt often used for skin issues is Epsom salt. While bathing in Epsom salt may help you relax and you may experience some benefit, there isn’t a whole lot of proof that Epsom salt does anything for your skin.^{[14]
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Question 6 of 8:

Can sea salt make you break out?

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Topical salt treatments won’t, but eating too much salt can! Salt absorbs moisture. If you eat too much sodium, it can dehydrate your skin and make it harder for your body to retain water. As a result, your skin may become dryer, and you may notice more pimples popping up.^{[15]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Go to source} Read the labels on the foods you eat to ensure that you don’t consume more than 2,300 mg of salt per day if you want healthy skin!^{[16]
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US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health

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- You should also avoid eating too much sugar, too many foods on the high end of the glycemic index, too much dairy, and any saturated fats as well, since these ingredients and foods can cause you to break out.^{[17]
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- If you are cooking something that calls for salt, use sea salt! There’s some evidence that it’s better for your health than the standard table salt.^{[18]
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Question 7 of 8:

What’s the best natural way to treat acne?

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You could try tea tree oil gels or aloe vera for a natural treatment. Sea salt is an option with unproven benefits, but you may have better luck with a few other options. Pimple-fighting gels that contain 5% tea tree oil appear to be just as effective as lotions that contain 5% benzoyl peroxide—the most popular ingredient in pimple-fighting formulas.^{[19]
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Mayo Clinic
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Go to source} You could also dab aloe vera onto your pimple to reduce inflammation and find some relief.
- If you experience any itching, burning, redness, or dryness, wash the gel off and stop using it.
- Don’t make your own tea tree oil treatment; any gel you buy in a store is going to be regulated and safe for your skin.
- Any pimple-fighting product that contains 5% bovine cartilage may be equally as effective as the tea tree oil gel if you use it twice a day.^{[20]
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Question 8 of 8:

Can I pop a pimple if it won’t go away?

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No, don’t touch, pick, or pop your pimples while they heal. It can be tempting to mess around with your skin when you’ve got a pimple, but letting the pimple be is the best way to accelerate healing. Touching your pimple may irritate it and make it appear bigger, and you may introduce germs or bacteria to your skin that can slow down the healing time. Popping your pimple may also cause scarring, so don’t fiddle with your skin!^{[21]
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American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

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- It’s okay to wear some makeup if you want to disguise the pimple while it heals. Just make sure you wash your skin to get rid of the makeup when you get home.^{[22]
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  Cleveland Clinic
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Tips

It often takes acne treatments roughly 4 weeks to work. Don’t assume that your pimples are going to disappear after one treatment!^{[23]
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