Can You Put Epsom Salt In a Foot Spa?

If you are a sort of a person that has a field job requiring walking or standing for long hours, we at Need For Spa feel your pain buddy! You have come to the right place and this article is only for you!

Some professions like retail supermarkets, flight attendees, nursing and waiting tables for restaurants can leave your legs and feet aching in pain after a day’s shift. 

Soaking your feet at night in a shimmering hot spa can revive your feet in no time, it takes all the stress away from your demanding job and relaxes your feet to the core.  

Foot Spa treatments are the most effective way to soothe those aching muscles and relax your whole body.

Nowadays electric foot spa come in a variety of features that include: temperature control, massaging rollers, exotic bubbles, vibration controls and much more. These features soothe out even the tiniest stressed out nerve in your feet.

As technology advances, foot spa have become advanced as well, now you can put in essential oils and salts of your liking in your foot spa.

This is done for various reasons, some people have ailments that can be cured by salts and potions other use these methods for beautification of their feet. 

Epsom salt is an organic compound found in nature and is best known for its exfoliating abilities. It is also an extremely reliable anti-inflammatory compound. The magnesium and sulfates present in the compound offer a variety of uses for foot soakers.

Epsom can rehydrate your dried-out skin, clear any fungal infection you might have and because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it can ease pain and aches in your feet. 

Now the question you all have been waiting for “Can you put Epsom salt in foot spa?” whenever you add a salt-like mixture to a machine the results can be a bit dangerous. Can the Epsom salt damage the foot spa? What are the risks involved while using Epsom salt in hot water? 

Foot Spa comes in all shapes and sizes, I mean that literally! Well, the answer is Yes but it all depends on your budget whether you go for an entry-level foot spa or for the fully loaded one. Almost all foot spas can entertain Epsom salt but before buying do check the instruction on the foot spa. 

Certain entry-level foot spas might get damaged if you put salts in them. If you have bought a decently priced one.

Is Epsom Salt not for everyone? 

You might want to reconsider using a foot spa if you have severe medical conditions like diabetes, tumors, or cancer of any sort. When under heavy medication, your circulatory system is under a lot of pressure hence using a foot spa might not be your best bet. 

What Are Epsom Salts?

Epsom salt is a compound made out of magnesium, oxygen, and sulfur. These are your typical bath salts because they dissolve easily in water, give out a nice aroma and the magnesium make the water in the tub turn a pinkish tone. Unlike table salt, Epsom tastes bitter.

Would you believe that these bath salts were consumed back in the day? Epsom tonic was all the hype, said to have curing abilities for diseases like diarrhea and insomnia.

As science progressed, researches were made on this natural wonder food but apparently, Epsom did not have any curing abilities. It does boost your magnesium levels though.  

How Epsom Salt Affects Your Feet?

The traditional way to use Epsom salt was with a big old tub, add hot water and soak your feet in it for about half an hour. People usually soaked their feet twice a week. 

The reason why this is beneficial is that the magnesium is absorbed into the body through the skin, leaving it with a smooth and soft after-texture.

It also helps to maintain the body’s optimum blood pressure, increase the health and strength of your bones, improving muscle strength and regularity of sleep.

Foot spa soak is beneficial because Epsom’s magnesium goes into your skin and rehydrates it. Your skin will feel soft with a shine that everyone will appreciate. Moreover, Epsom reduces swellings because of is anti-inflammatory. A good foot spa soak with Epsom will reduce pain for people suffering from arthritis.

Adding Epsom Salt To Your Foot Spa

You can add Epsom salts to your foot spa as they do not contain water jets that could become congested with salt. Placing salts in your Conair foot spa will certainly help you reduce any swelling in your feet and relax those tense muscles.

However, it is recommended that you clean out your foot spa regularly to avoid the buildup of salt crystals that can occur over time.

You need to check whether or not your foot spa has water jets, if it has then you cant use salts in the foot spa. 

• Firstly, ensure that your Conair foot spa is turned off before adding salt to the mix.

• If you want to keep the surface underneath your foot spa to remain spill-free, place a bath towel underneath.

• Rather than heating the water, your Conair foot spa will simply maintain the temperature of the water you put in. So if you want warm or hot water, make sure that you pre-heat it to the desired temperature before adding it to your Conair.

• Fill up the water up to the maximum line indicated on the uppermost part of your foot spa.

• Add your Epsom salt to the water inside the foot spa. You can also add your Epsom salt to the water before pouring it into the foot spa to avoid excess salt buildup.

• Once the mixture is in the foot spa, turn the unit on so that the temperature will be maintained throughout. Do not put your feet in just yet.

• Take a chair and dip your feet into the spa. The device will soon start to bubble and you should feel the water and salt crystals working their magic on your tired and sore feet.

• Continue the spa treatment for 15 – 20 minutes, ideally. You can keep the machine running for a maximum of 30 minutes if you suffer from chronic foot dryness or arthritis.

• Once the treatment is complete, turn off your Conair and drain off the water.

• When your machine is empty, wipe it down with a thick, dry bath towel to avoid salt encrusting on the rim.

What Is The Best DIY Foot Soak?

You can also use Listerine in a homemade foot soaking recipe, combining just a few simple ingredients that you might find around your home.

The antiseptic properties of the Listerine will help heal any cuts or sores that have developed on your feet.

• Simply mix Listerine and warm water in a vaguely equal measure along with one cup of Epsom salt.

• You can also mix half a cup of Listerine with half a cup of vinegar and one gallon of warm water with 2 to 3 tablespoons of honey. This is a very natural alternative remedy for foot sores and dry skin.

• Mix Listerine with a gallon of warm water with 1 or 2 drops of lemon juice.

How Long Can You Soak Your Feet In Epsom Salts?

You should not soak your feet for longer than half an hour in Epsom salts, although the ideal soaking time should be between 15 and 20 minutes.

Your grandma (and perhaps your grandpa, too) recommended it and it’s easy to understand why: Epsom Salt is a cheap, mineral-rich compound that has been favored over time for a variety of reasons.

If your feet could use some TLC and pricey foot bath compounds cost more than your last pedicure, we offer you six reasons you can rely upon this grand old mix of magnesium and sulfate to pamper and even heal your feet.

1. Epsom Salt is regularly used by men, women, and especially athletes to relieve aches, pains and decrease inflammation. You don’t have to be a marathon runner to crave relief.

Specifically, if you’re suffering from sore muscles and joint pain caused by arthritis or other bone-related ailments, soaking your feet in Epsom Salt could offer you lots of benefits and relief. You might also try an Epsom Salt foot bath to decrease swelling triggered by a foot injury.

2. Epsom Salt foot baths are recommended for use by people suffering from a variety of skin disorders. Hot water and this mix of minerals may be the solution you seek for foot conditions that include athlete’s foot and toenail fungus, both of which can make life miserable and uncomfortable.

Epsom Salt products are said to have anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, skin infections that result from debilitating assaults on the feet could benefit from long soaks.

3. Epsom Salt foot baths may help to improve circulation. The combination of warm water and the mineral’s crystals can start the process of pushing blood through arteries and veins that may relieve stress almost immediately.

Plagued by foot cramps? Plenty of Epsom Salt fans swears by this mineral to combat searing pain (especially in the middle of the night!) that may indicate that your body is suffering from a magnesium deficiency.

By treating your feet to Epsom Salt baths, your skin can absorb these essential minerals to mediate foot cramps day or night.

4. An Epsom Salt foot bath gives you an opportunity to clean, sanitize, and pamper your feet more thoroughly than your shower or tub bath.

Minerals, in concert with the soak, can clean your feet thoroughly enough to remove germs and substances not seen with the naked eye.

The combination of salt, water, and soaking sanitizes feet because bacteria can’t thrive in salty environments, so these footbaths can help inhibit the growth of nasty microorganisms.

5. Epsom Salt makes an awesome beauty treatment because it does everything from pampering your skin to softening calluses and loosening dirt that gets beneath nail beds.

It’s so inexpensive, you can soak your feet as often as you like and if you add essential oils to your foot bath, your feet will feel just as they do after you’ve enjoyed a pricey pedicure.

That stated, if your skin tends to be dry, make sure you lavish your feet with a rich cream after every soak.

Benefits of Epsom Salt Foot Soaks

The skin is the largest organ of the body.  Our feet need to be pampered just like our face – our feet work hard all day and foot care is necessary as well as relaxing. 

Epsom salt is a popular remedy for muscle aches and stress. People use Epsom salt foot soaks for a range of foot-related complaints.

Epsom salt is a natural compound that contains magnesium sulfate and has a crystallized structure. People have used Epsom salt for hundreds of years to treat a variety of ailments, including pain. However, there is limited research supporting many of the medicinal claims.

Benefits of Epsom Foot Soaks

Foot soaks may help ease muscle soreness. Typically, people add Epsom salt to a bath or use an Epsom salt foot soak to ease muscle soreness.

A few small studies suggest soaking in an Epsom salt bath may allow magnesium to penetrate the skin. One study found that magnesium penetrates the outer layer of the skin depending on the concentration of the salt and how long a person soaks in it.

Some people believe soaking the feet can rid the body of toxins and heavy metals, though the evidence is mixed. Read more about foot detoxes.

Absorbing magnesium through the skin from an Epsom salt foot soak may provide the following benefits:

Decreasing Symptoms of Athlete’s Foot

According to the Epsom Salt Council, Epsom salt does not kill the fungus that causes an athlete’s foot. However, it may help draw the moisture out, which makes the environment less inviting for fungus.

Easing Inflammation

While some advocates claim that an Epsom salt foot soak removes toxins from the body, there is no strong evidence to confirm this.

However, the absorption of the magnesium through the skin may boost the levels of the mineral in the body and decrease inflammation. Reducing inflammation may ease pain and stiffness associated with conditions, such as arthritis and gout.

Exfoliating the skin

The crystallized compound structure of Epsom salt provides exfoliation of the dead skin on the feet. The foot soak may help decrease roughness and leave the feet softer.  After soaking the feet is a great time to use an exfoliating tool to remove dead skin.

Reducing Odor

Any type of foot soak might help reduce odor and clean the feet. Keeping the feet clean and free from bacteria is beneficial for overall foot health.

How to Do It:

To best ease soreness, a foot soak should be between 92°F and 100°F.

A foot soak involves immersing the feet in warm water. According to the Arthritis Foundation, water temperatures between 92°F and 100°F are best to ease soreness.  Follow these steps to use Epsom salt in a foot soak:

1. Fill a basin or foot spa with enough warm water to cover the feet up to the ankles.
2. Add half or three-quarters of a cup of Epsom salt to the water.
3. Place the feet in the soak for about 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Dry thoroughly after the soak and then moisturize the feet.

An Epsom salt foot soak can dry out the feet, so it is best not to do it every night. Try soaking the feet once or twice a week to make sure it does not cause dryness.  Always end your foot soak with moisturizer!

Precautions

Be sure to purchase Epsom salts and foot soaks intended for human use. All Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate, but manufacturers produce a range of salts for different purposes.

Chemically, all Epsom salt is the same, but it is available in different grades.  Look for Epsom salt that has USP designated on the label.

USP indicates that scientists have tested the product for human use and that it has met the safety regulations established by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Epsom salt suitable for foot soaks is available to buy at pharmacies, health food stores, and online.

For most people, an Epsom bath foot soak is safe. But there are a few instances when it is best to talk to a healthcare provider before using.

For example, people that have very dry skin should avoid overdoing foot soaks because the salt can dry out the skin leaving the feet more prone to cracks.

Foot soaks of any type are not safe for people who have diabetes due to the increased risk of infection. Regularly soaking the feet may increase dryness, which can lead to cracking and raise the risk of infection.

Individuals that have open wounds or sores should also talk with their doctor before using a foot soak.

A foot soak may not provide enough relief from certain foot problems. Consider seeing a healthcare provider if any of the following symptoms are present:

1. Prolonged tenderness after a foot injury

2. Foot pain that does not go away in a week

3. Swelling or redness of the foot

4. Open sores

Summary

Although research is limited, it does indicate that the skin might absorb magnesium. Possible benefits of an Epsom salt foot soak include reduced itching, decreased inflammation, and reduced soreness.

The risks of using an Epsom salt foot soak are minimal. For most people, it may be worth a try. But there are a few instances when it is best to avoid using a foot soak, including when a person has diabetes or has open sores on their feet.  Moisturize the feet and put socks on to maintain the moisture.