The Role of Thermal Water in Chronic Skin Diseases Management: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The benefits of thermal water in different diseases have been known since ancient times. Over the past decades, a re-assessment of the use of mineral water for the treatment of several pathologic conditions has taken place around the world. Today, water therapy is being practiced in many countries that have a variety of mineral springs considerably different in their hydrogeologic origin, temperature, and chemical composition. Thermal water and balneotherapy offer several advantages: this approach needs no chemicals or potentially harmful drugs; there are almost no side effects during and after treatment, and there is a low risk to the patient’s general health and well-being. However, it is difficult to evaluate the efficacy of this therapeutic approach in clinical practice due to the complexity of molecular mechanisms underlying its efficacy. Here we review the current knowledge of the chemical, immunological, and microbiological basis for therapeutic effects of thermal water with a specific focus on chronic inflammatory skin diseases. We also describe recent evidence of the major dermatologic diseases that are frequently treated by balneotherapy with a remarkable rate of success. Moreover, we discuss the potential role of balneotherapy either alone or as a complement to conventional medical treatments.

Utilization of Regional Natural Brines for the Indoor Cultivation of Salicornia europaea

“…Given the global wide distribution of natural brines and their known complex chemical composition, often coupled to local geothermal structures, there is a high potential for their further application to respond to the crop production needs and requirements of regional agricultural [35,36]. In Germany, natural brine springs are widespread and of economic importance for the chlor-alkali electrolysis industry as well as for therapeutic applications in the spa [37,38]. So far, natural brine has not been used for agricultural purposes.…”

Health management of patients with COVID-19: is there a room for hydrotherapeutic approaches?

“…The benefits of waters might also be due to their chemical composition naturally rich in different minerals and other components (Nguyen Ba 2020). For instance, sodium chloride-rich mineral waters might be beneficial for digestive disorders (Crespo et al 2021), salty and sulfur waters for dermatological applications (Cacciapuoti et al 2020), or sulfate mineral waters appear as a medical resource used for several disorders, such as gastroenteric, musculoskeletal, skin, and respiratory disorders (Costantino et al 2019)-types of symptoms presented by post-COVID-19 patients. Supplementation of mineral water during thermal therapy has been shown to provide digestive benefits in patients with functional dyspepsia or irritable bowel syndrome, with specific improvements on the gastric acid output and transit duration, as well as a reduction of the different other symptoms (Gasbarrini et al 2006).…”

Hydrogen Sulfide in Skin Diseases: A Novel Mediator and Therapeutic Target

“…Bathing in sulfur-rich spring water can treat many immune-mediated skin diseases, such as psoriasis and AD. Due to the sulfur and H 2 S in thermal water, this therapy can decrease scales, pruritus, and inflammation in patients with psoriasis and exert beneficial anti-inflammatory, keratoplastic, and antipruriginous effects [ 84 ]. The use of sulfur water has also been proposed to relieve AD, leg ulcers, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa lesions because sulfur can interact with ROS in the deeper epidermis, producing sulfur and H 2 S, which may be transformed into pentathionic acid; this pentathionic acid may be the source of the antibacterial and antifungal properties of thermal springs [ 85 – 87 ].…”