Feeling the Tight Squeeze at the Beach? Blame the Salt, Not the Sun!

If your skin is pulled taut and dry after a beach day, science now has the explanation: it's not in your head—saltwater is the culprit. A new study at Binghamton University has discovered just why this occurs: when seawater dries on your skin, it leaves behind tiny salt crystals that literally suck water from your skin's outer layer, the stratum corneum.

 

Key Highlights:

 

Salt Crystals = Loss of Water: As saltwater evaporates, it deposits salt on your skin, pulling water from your skin onto the surface, enhancing "drying stress" and making your skin feel tight and stiff.

 

Disruption of the Barrier: This phase disrupts the defense barrier of your skin, rendering it susceptible to cracking, flaking, and even bacterial penetration.

 

Lab-Proven Effect: Researchers found that exposure to saltwater nearly doubles the stiffness of drying tension and skin relative to fresh water, confirming the popular "urban myth.".

 

Easy Solution: Showering after you swim and putting moisturizer on can relieve dryness and restore your skin's barrier.

 

Prospects: With beach holidays looming, specialists advise rinsing off the saltwater immediately upon leaving the ocean and keeping your skin well-moisturized to keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and comfortable after swimming in the ocean.

 

Source: Hindustan Times