The use of balneotherapy in dermatology

Authors: Huang A (1) , Seité S (2) , Adar T (1)
Affiliations:
(1) Department of Dermatology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center (2) La Roche-Posay Dermatological Laboratories
Source: Clin Dermatol. 2018 May - Jun;36(3):363-368
DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2018.03.010 Publication date: 2018 May E-Publication date: March 13, 2018 Availability: abstract Copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Language: English Countries: Israel, Jordan, France, Iceland Location: Dead Sea, La Roche-Posay, Blue Lagoon Correspondence address: Huang A : Ah2485@gmail.com

Keywords

Article abstract

Balneotherapy is the treatment of disease by bathing in thermal spring water. This therapy has been used for centuries and remains a popular form of treatment for dermatologic and rheumatologic diseases today. Although the favorable climates of balneotherapy thermal centers have known beneficial effects on psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, the thermal spring waters themselves can also potentially decrease skin inflammation. The addition of phototherapy to balneotherapy, or balneophototherapy, further enhances the anti-inflammatory effects of thermal spring water. We have reviewed the literature on balneotherapy in the treatment of skin diseases, as well as describing their use in three different treatment sites, each with unique climates and chemical properties of the mineral water used in balneotherapy-the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan, the La Roche-Posay Thermal Center in France, and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.

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