While doctors have long advised against high salt consumption due to heart health risks, new research suggests that sodium may also have adverse effects on the skin. A recent study has found a correlation between high salt intake and the skin disorder eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis.

The research, led by Dr. Katrina Abuabara, associate professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), concluded that reducing dietary sodium intake could be a cost-effective and low-risk intervention for managing atopic dermatitis. The findings were drawn from the UK Biobank, an extensive British research database that includes almost 216,000 participants aged 37 and older.

Participants in the Biobank study provided urine samples, which were analyzed to estimate their sodium intake. Approximately 5% of the individuals in the Biobank had been diagnosed with eczema. The study revealed that for every 1-gram increase in daily sodium excretion, the odds of an eczema flare-up increased by 22%, with the effect being more pronounced in women than men.

Moreover, participants with high salt intake had an 11% higher risk of severe eczema, while those who adhered to health guidelines for limiting salt intake had a 12% lower risk of developing the condition. The average 24-hour urine sodium excretion among participants was about 3 grams.

Published on June 5 in the journal JAMA Dermatology, the study aligns with historical recommendations from over a century ago, which suggested reduced sodium intake as a treatment for atopic dermatitis. Although the study did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it supports existing literature indicating that excess dietary sodium can be stored in the skin and may play a role in inflammatory processes contributing to eczema.

Dr. Abuabara emphasized the practical implications of these findings in a UCSF news release. "Most Americans eat too much salt and can safely reduce their intake to recommended levels," she said. "Eczema flares can be difficult for patients to cope with, especially when they are unable to anticipate them and don’t have recommendations on what they can do to avoid them."

The researchers advocate for future studies to explore the restriction of dietary sodium intake as a potential intervention for atopic dermatitis. Such an approach could offer a cost-effective, low-risk, and widely accessible means of managing the condition.

This study opens new avenues for understanding the impact of diet on skin health and provides a compelling reason to reconsider dietary habits, particularly salt consumption, for those struggling with eczema.