While a warm bath is relaxing all on its own, you may want to give it a boost with some extra ingredients. Not all add-ins are created equal, however. Some products make for a luxurious, skin-softening soak, but some should be avoided. For example, certain essential oils can throw off the delicate pH balance of the vagina or trigger symptoms of skin conditions like eczema, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. (If you have specific health concerns, consult your primary care doctor, gynecologist, or dermatologist before adding anything to your bath.) Some additions do bring health benefits to your soak, though — and you probably have some of them in cabinets already! Here are ways to spike your bath that promote healthy skin, stress relief, and sound sleep — and the ones you might want to steer clear of, according to doctors and dermatologists.
1. Best: Epsom Salt
The bath add-in most recommended by the health professionals we spoke to is likely one you already know and love — Epsom salt, which is made of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen. Add about 1¼ cups of Epsom salt to your bath to soothe sore muscles and stiff joints, recommends Cleveland Clinic, and opt for a product that contains 100 percent magnesium sulfate. Bathing with Epsom salt “naturally reduces inflammation from either an injury or sore muscles,” says Raphael Kellman, MD, speaking from his experience as an integrative and functional medicine physician in New York City. Avoid Epsom salt if you’re experiencing skin inflammation (redness, swelling, rashes, blisters, pain, dryness, and itching) or a skin infection, or if you have an open wound or burn.
2. Worst: Bath Bombs
They turn your bathwater fun colors, come in a variety of fun shapes and designs, and bring some extra excitement to bathtime. But bath bombs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The ingredients that make them colorful, sparkly, fragrant, and fizzy are the same ingredients that could bother skin and disrupt vaginal microflora, according to Cleveland Clinic. “Bath bombs commonly contain questionable ingredients,” says Dr. Kellman. He points to the following additives:
Artificial scents and fragrances, which may cause hormone imbalancesVarious dyes and artificial colorings, which can cause irritation, allergic reactions, and contribute to urinary tract infectionsHydrogen peroxide, which can disrupt the balance of vaginal microflora, leaving you susceptible to a UTI or yeast infection
“Abrasive chemicals, strong fragrances, and dyes that are often found in bath bombs can irritate and dehydrate your skin,” explains Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group in New York City. “You may also end up covered in glitter, which can be difficult to remove and further irritate the skin.”
3. Best: Lavender Oil
Essential oils are an easy way to elevate bath time, but you’ll want to choose them wisely, as some essential oils are too harsh for a soak. Luckily, lavender oil usually gets the all-clear. The Sleep Foundation touts lavender for its calming fragrance and potential aromatherapeutic benefits, and some dermatologists recommend it, too: “Lavender oil promotes relaxation, soothes muscles, and helps reduce anxiety,” says Kellman. Aside from its soothing scent, some scientific evidence has suggested lavender oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that promote wound healing, says Kseniya Kobets, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. While more research is needed, a review in the August 2020 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that lavender essential oil promoted faster wound healing and increased collagen production in the skin. A quick note on using essential oils like lavender oil in your bath: It’s best to dilute them with a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba oil, as Cleveland Clinic recommends, before you apply them to skin or add them to bathwater. Use up to 25 drops of essential oil per 15 milliliters of carrier oil, then add a few drops of that mix to your bath in the evening and enjoy the soothing scent.
4. Worst: Tea Tree Oil
Not all essential oils are suitable for your bath. Tea tree oil is one of them. “The problem with adding an essential oil such as tea tree oil is that it is super concentrated and it is oil-based, and oil and water do not mix,” says Castilla. “After pouring it into the bath, the essential oil will just sit on top of the water. When the concentrated oil comes in contact with the skin, it is likely to cause irritation.” This is unlikely to be an issue with generally skin-safe oils like lavender, particularly when diluted in a carrier oil, but more irritating oils like tea tree can pose a problem, especially at higher doses. A past review suggests tea tree oil has a high risk of causing allergic contact dermatitis (with up to 3.5 out of 100 people having a skin reaction when tested).
5. Best: Baking Soda
Baking soda baths are a potential remedy for eczema and related skin irritation, notes the National Eczema Association. Add ¼ cup to your bath to relieve itching. If you have an infant dealing with diaper rash, try adding 2 tablespoons to their tub, notes Parkside Pediatrics. “Baking soda has detoxifying and pH-balancing actions, which can help balance out the essential oils used in bath salts,” Dr. Kobets says. “It can also help eliminate odors.” Baking soda is often touted as a home remedy for acne, but it can cause mild irritation for some who are sensitive to it and may not know it.
6. Worst: Bubble Bath
Bubbles aren’t inherently bad for you, but a bath product’s ingredient list can be telling, and doctors want you to check the label thoroughly before taking a bubble bath. “Bubble baths that include a lot of chemicals and artificial additives should be avoided,” warns Kellman. “These can be potentially irritating to the skin, especially if you are prone to dry skin, allergic reactions, eczema, or psoriasis.” Kobets recommends avoiding bubble baths with fragrances and dyes altogether to minimize irritation, echoing advice from the American Academy of Dermatology. And don’t get caught out by “unscented” products, which may still contain irritating chemicals to mask their scent. Look for “fragrance-free” instead. Luckily, you can swap traditional bubble bath for a skin-loving body wash and still create plenty of bubbles. Kobets recommends La Roche-Posay Lipikar Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash (Laroche-posay.us), or Vanicream Gentle Body Wash (Vanicream.com) for sensitive skin, while Castilla likes Maude Wash No. 0 (Getmaude.com) and Honest Sensitive Fragrance-Free Bubble Bath (Honest.com).
7. Best: Olive Oil
Soaking in the tub for too long can dry out the skin, but olive oil can act as a natural moisturizer, research suggests. “Hot water and detergents can strip the skin of its natural oils and skin barrier,” explains Kobets. “Including olive oil in a bath salt will counteract some skin dehydration and trans-epidermal water loss, which naturally can happen during a bath.” She recommends applying the oil to your skin before submerging yourself in your bath to increase skin moisture or pouring some directly into the tub. “You can add anywhere between 5 tablespoons to 1 cup of olive oil to bathwater,” says Kobets, based on her experience with patients. “If you have acne-prone skin, err on the former side.” And if you’re adding an oil to your bath, take extra care not to slip when exiting the tub! After your bath, use a scrubber with a paste of baking soda and hot water to remove any oily residue, advises SFGate. Dish soap will also remove stubborn slipperiness.
8. Worst: Coconut Oil
If you’re going to add oil to your bath for the moisturizing benefits, choose olive oil over coconut oil. Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, explains Kobets, meaning it can easily clog pores and cause breakouts, especially in those with acne-prone skin, per the American Acne Association. In a study published in the International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research in August 2019, researchers advised against applying coconut oil to acne-prone skin.
9. Best: Oats
Oat baths are a traditional remedy for a variety of skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, and they’re a great option for anyone who wants to moisturize their skin. “Oats are well-known for their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, and are a great add-in to warm baths for those with eczema or sensitive skin,” says Kobets. These properties mean it’s been used for decades to soothe eczema, per past research; it’s especially helpful to combat itchiness from eczema, according to the National Eczema Foundation. Add up to 1½ cups of oats to bathwater to soothe and moisturize skin. To minimize mess, put the oats in pantyhose and tie them to the faucet while you run your bath. Or, for a fuss-free way to incorporate oats into your routine, Kobets likes Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment With Colloidal Oatmeal (Aveeno.com).
