Can you absorb things transdermally?

[Shoeshelpplease]

Just that really. Interested to hear people thoughts on this, experiences, anecdotes etc.

I bath everyday with Epsom, sometimes other types of salts, for various health reasons. Carving out and making time for thirty minutes daily.

I've always been aware it's a controversial subject as to if this is actually doing any good re magnesium absorption.

I'm just reading Bad Science by Ben Goldacre and, albeit it, this is in the section about facial skincare, he is saying we are being taken for mugs. The skin is impermeable. That's it's job.

So are my salts ONLY acting as a moisturiser / exfoliant? Am I wasting my time hoping for some intrinsic benefit?

Really interested in hearing others thoughts.

If you can’t then why aren’t I allowed to use my topical psoriasis creams whilst pregnant. Been told not to as they can go through and effect the baby

I think you can absorb things through the skin, but the amount is negligible. So the article you read is probably more about how the beauty industry is charging a small fortune for something that won't actually make that much of a difference.

If it makes you happy and you feel the benefit of doing it, keep doing it. If you feel like you're being taken for a mug by doing it then stop.

The amount is teeny tiny, generally. Karigan I think you've likely been given poor advice. Mild steroids are generally fine and a recommended treatment for psoriasis in pregnancy...

Of course you can - that's how nicotine patches work. Or pain patches like fentanyl.

And there was a lot of lead poisoning in the 18th century because of the fashion for wearing lead paint as make-up.

I'll be honest though, I've no idea how much of the salt you'll be absorbing in the bath.

I doubt you absorb much.

My HRT patches wouldn't work if you couldn't absorb transdermally!

Personally I don't think things like Voltaire or topical painkillers work, probably placebo effect.

I did some reading up on this a few years ago and I seem to remember reading that it is scientifically regarded as impossible for magnesium to be absorbed this way, yet various studies have shown that it does actually work. So it’s a bit like a bumble bee’s flight, I think. Not supposed to be able to happen, but does anyway.

I developed a stiff sore lower back when we were away ski ing and a friend gave me a bottle of stuff to rub in my back.

It was quite strong, a pine smell if I recall correctly and my friend said it was no longer being sold in the uk and he had used it for years and has bought up as much as he could as it was so good.

It worked amazingly.

Magnesium is definitely absorbed better through the skin than orally. I use dermal magnesium to control my son’s constipation. I’ve recently started to use BetterYou Magnesium Lotion myself before bed, and not only am I sleeping a lot better, but my bowels are ridiculously looser as a result. I used to be very cynical about it, but I’m very much converted:

Skin is an organ, I don't think any organ is impermeable.

@PhoenixBuchanan oh I’m allowed the crappy mild cream that barely does anything but not the enstillar that works

So Fentanyl pain patches and Oxycodone pain patches that they put on dying patients are just for effect then!! You didn't quite think this through op did you?

You can absorb things through the skin, that is why some medicines come in patch form but it depends on molecule size and type. There are places in the skin where things can pass through (both ways) and if the molecules of the cream or item is the right size and shape they can pass through.

No idea about Epsom salts but I have a recollection from many years ago of reading (possibly in The Beauty Myth) that anything that can be absorbed through the skin is classed as a pharmaceutical and has to be sold over the counter at a chemist. Hence HRT patches etc being medical (is there a restriction on nicotine patches?). And therefore the beauty industry's claims about their products penetrating the deeper level of skin is bullshit.