A milk bath can help you achieve healthy, glowing, and exuberant skin. We all want to look good, but using milk in your bath can do even more than that. If you want the best skin possible, you’ll want to learn more about milk baths right away.
Milk baths are becoming more popular in the beauty world, but they’ve been around since ancient times. Cleopatra utilized the nourishing properties, and the benefits have recently become more widely known. Using natural ingredients for skin health allows you to achieve healthy skin without using chemicals or unsafe products.
A milk bath is just what it sounds like, but you can use other natural ingredients, too. All that you have to do is add milk to warm water in your bathtub, and you will quickly notice a difference. Adding milk to your bath water offers many skin benefits, including hydrating and soothing.
Six Science-Backed Benefits of Taking a Milk Bath
The fat content of milk is highly beneficial to your skin, and it also offers plenty of other benefits. Milk is a common ingredient in skin products you find at the store, but you can skip that step and do it yourself. Learning how to do a milk bath at home can make all the difference in your self-care routine.
1- Relieves Eczema and Helps Treat Psoriasis
Taking a milk bath can help relieve the rashes and bumpy skin caused by eczema. Human breast milk is known to help with eczema, but other milk baths can, too. Studies show that milk baths can treat eczema just as effectively as hydrocortisone ointment.
Rather than applying ointment, you can opt for a milk bath instead. The milk can soothe your skin and help heal the eczema patches. While milk shouldn’t replace your regular medication, you can talk to your doctor about trying it out.
Milk baths can also help treat psoriasis symptoms. If you ever experience itchy, flaky, or patchy skin caused by psoriasis, milk can help alleviate the effects.
2 – Calms Sunburn and Eases Poison Ivy Symptoms
When you spend time in nature, you run the risk of developing uncomfortable skin conditions. Even when you wear sunscreen, you run the risk of becoming sunburned. If it happens to you, try taking a milk bath to alleviate the symptoms.
Likewise, if you develop a rash from poison ivy, taking a bath in milk can help. The proteins, fat, amino acids, and vitamins A and D can calm your skin. These nutrients and vitamins are found in milk and will quickly help you feel better.
If you have sunburn or poison ivy, soak in a milk bath for at least twenty minutes. The soak will soothe redness, inflammation, and itchiness, helping you experience relief as you heal.
3 – Releases Tension and Stress
When you take a milk bath, it helps relieve tension and stress. It eases bodily tension that can make you feel sore, tender and experience other aches. The heat from the bath promotes elasticity in your body, helping you loosen up and relax.
Plus, it can help you stretch your muscles and prevent further tension and pain from occurring. Relaxing in the bath can help you de-stress after a long day, and it can promote happiness. Taking a bath can help you reduce stress-inducing hormones, and it alleviates stress you’re already dealing with.
The longer you can soak in the tub, the more benefits you will notice. If you can’t spend an extended amount of time soaking in the milk water, ensure that your time is uninterrupted. A short amount of uninterrupted time can be just as effective as a full hour in the tub.
4 – Soothes Dry Skin
Living with dry skin isn’t a good feeling, as it can be itchy and painful. If you have dry skin, milk baths can make all the difference in your life. Milk contains proteins, fat, vitamins, minerals, and lactic acid, all of which replenish lost moisture in your skin.
The proteins and fat found in milk can help soften and soothe your skin naturally. You won’t have to worry about exposing yourself to harsh chemicals because the lactic acid in milk is a gentle exfoliator. It’ll help shed dead skin cells without being too harsh on your skin.
The gentle exfoliating leads to softer skin without damaging your healthy cells. Dry skin can be extremely itchy and uncomfortable, so find the type of milk that works best for your skin. The lactic acid promotes natural exfoliation, allowing you to experience moisturized and soothe skin.
5 – Boosts Your Immune System and Increases Circulation
You can also use a milk bath to promote circulation in your body. It nourishes the blood cells traveling to your damaged tissues, allowing your blood to circulate easier. Without a bath, those damaged tissues might not receive the nourishment that they need.
Additionally, taking a milk bath can boost your immune system. The hot water can help kill bacteria living in your body. Plus, the stimulation can help your lymph and vascular system decrease the risk of developing colds and infections.
6 – Promotes Sleep
If you ever have trouble sleeping, taking a milk bath can help. When you take a milk bath, it allows you to drift off into a blissful sleep cycle.
A hot bath can cause your blood vessels to dilate, causing less blood to reach your brain. It makes your heart rate speed up to circulate more blood, making you feel fatigued. When this happens, your body temperature naturally rises, telling you it’s time to sleep.
How to Prepare and Enjoy a Milk Bath
You can buy milk baths at many stores, but you can also make them at home. You don’t have to purchase pre-made mixtures when you have all the ingredients at home already. All that you have to do is use two cups of milk.
If you want, you can add one cup of Epsom salts, half a cup of baking soda, and one teaspoon of carrier oil. You can also add ten drops of essential oils to the water. Consider adding five drops of one essential oil and five drops of another.
Run your hot bath and when the water is about halfway full, add the other ingredients. If you don’t want to use any add-ons, add just the milk when the water is half full.
After adding the milk, you can add other natural ingredients to make the most of your bath. Popular options include the following carrier oils:
- Coconut
- Jojoba
- Sweet almond
- Arnica
- Avocado
- Pomegranate seed
You can also add essential oils to the milk bath, including:
- Lavender
- Rose
- Frankincense
- Chamomile
- Clary sage
- Grapefruit
- Geranium
Other things you can additives that improve your milk bath are these:
- Epsom salts
- Baking soda
- Honey
Once you’ve added everything to your bath, it’s time to relax. Treat yourself to the best experience you can, and don’t skimp on the add-ons. This time is for relaxation, so lay back and unwind as you boost your skin health.
Types of Milk Baths
There are many types of milk baths, and the benefits vary based on the kind you choose. Some of the options are animal-based, but there are quite a few plant-based choices, as well.
1 – Coconut Milk
This type contains lauric acid, which is a medium-chain fatty acid. It has antimicrobial properties and promotes skin health. Coconut milk has anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects, and it helps with wound healing because it increases collagen turnover.
2 – Oat Milk
Adding oat milk to your bath is a gentle way to promote healthy aging. It can help improve skin issues such as dry skin and eczema, and it’s a vegan-friendly option.
3 – Almond Milk
Using almond milk in your bath can soothe, hydrate, and restore your skin. It is rich in fatty oils and leaves your skin feeling supple and soft.
4 – Goat Milk
This type helps break down dead skin cells because it contains lactic acid. It makes your skin feel smooth and moisturized. Goat milk also helps reduce inflammation and has anti-bacterial properties.
5 – Buttermilk
This type of milk also contains lactic acid. It increases the firmness and thickness of your skin. Buttermilk also improves the smoothness of your skin and works as an exfoliating agent.
6 – Breast Milk
Human breast milk is sometimes the best choice for a bath. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can treat skin conditions. If a baby suffers from eczema or has a diaper rash, breast milk will often soothe it.
Final Thoughts on Benefits of Taking a Milk Bath and How to Do It
After adding your desired ingredients, soak in the bath for at least 20 to 30 minutes. The longer you stay in the tub, the more benefits you will receive. Whether you have dry skin or a more severe condition, a milk bath can help relieve the symptoms.
Choose which kind of milk you want to treat yourself to in your bath and get started. Focus on the self-care and relaxation aspect as you soak in the tub. Not only will your release stress and tension, but your skin will be softer, too.
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