Although you can find various kinds of modern medications for almost all wounds and injuries, the use of Epsom salt as one of wound home remedies is still excessive. Epsom salt is an inorganic salt containing magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen that can be applied topically on wounds or taken internally. In addition, a soak bath with Epsom salt is known to provide comfort and alleviate various pains and aches. When applied topically, Epsom salt can help psoriasis and other skin disorders, while in small doses, it functions as laxative when taken orally.

Does it burn open wounds?

Some people might have heard that salt or salt water has a great impact on wound healing that it becomes the most popular home remedy for many kinds of wounds. However, you might also wonder whether treating an open wound with Epsom salt—the natural mineral found in the English land of Epsom—will cause similar sting with the ordinary table salt. Indeed, the sting sensation you feel when applying salt or salt water into an open wound can be traumatic. However, Epsom salt is not as scary as the table salt.

The main substance of Epsom salt is magnesium, which is helpful for wound healing. In fact, this substance does not trigger stinging sensation on an open wound and instead, gives a soothing sensation. Hence, Epsom salt has been widely used for enhancing wound healing and inhibiting infection progress. Although this remedy might need a second opinion from a medical practitioner when used with a diabetic patient, Epsom salt immersion on an open wound can be used in healthy people. With proper techniques, this remedy is not only affordable and easy, but also effective and beneficial for faster wound healing.

How Epsom salt improve open wounds

Epsom salt has similar properties to the table salt, in that they help improving a wounded site by absorbing excessive fluids that cause skin cell inflammation. When this moisture is absorbed, the cells shrink and thus, the skin regeneration begins. The infesting bacteria is also carried away by Epsom salt while absorbing this excessive moisture. Epsom salt is also beneficial in helping skin abscess healing by tenderize the affected skin area and help the abscess to eventually drain.

Cautions

Although Epsom salt might be helpful for wound healing in healthy people, this should not be relied on for people with health complications, such as diabetes. Diabetes affects nerves system and thus, people with this complication is not able to differentiate water temperature used for Epsom salt bath. Thus, skin burn may take place and foot ulcer may occur, which can be deadly for diabetic persons. In addition, Epsom salt bath should not also be taken too frequently, as similar to table salt, Epsom salt is a drying agent, so that it takes your skin moisture, resulting in drying out skin cells. When the bath is taken too frequently, although may be soothing, it may cause the skin to be over dried. This can be dangerous when you are having an infected open wound somewhere on the foot or other body parts. An open wound which is over-dried may re-bleed and thus, can be infected further. Re-bleeding open wounds may result in tear if the skin and another bacterial infestation, which delays healing.