In March 2020 researchers from Denmark published the results of their study to assess the effectiveness of Dead Sea climatotherapy on psoriasis. (Climatotherapy involves a combination of sunbathing and swimming in the sea over a period of several weeks. The Dead Sea has an unusually high concentration of both salt and minerals such as sodium, magnesium and potassium, which allow bathers to float effortlessly. In addition, the air is clean and dry, and radiation measurements have shown that the UV-B (the short rays) is weaker which means it is possible to stay in the sun longer without sunburn damage.) A total of 18 individuals with psoriasis took part in an individualised 4-week programme which consisted of sun exposure and bathing. Results showed that Dead Sea climatotherapy was associated with an average reduction of 88% in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and an average reduction of 76.7% on the Investigator’s Global Assessment Scale. In addition, the individual’s quality of life was seen to improve. The average time from the end of the treatment to reappearance of symptoms was 94 days.
Emmanuel T et al. Effect of Dead Sea Climatotherapy on Psoriasis; A Prospective Cohort Study. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020 Mar 18;7:83.