Back-ground The beneficial effect of the Dead Sea (DS) area in psoriasis is attributed in part to the DS water, which has a high content of minerals,

Aim The aim of the study was 10 evaluate the sole therapeutic effect of DS salt in psoriasis.

Patients and Methods Thirty patients wild psoriasis vulgaris, involving >15% body area, were included in the study, which was conducted in a double-blind controlled manner. Treatment consisted of once daily baths, heated lo 35°C, of 20 min duration, for 3 weeks, of cither DS bath salt (group I) or common salt (group II). Clinical evaluation was based on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score determination before and after treatment

Results Twenty-five patients 113 in group 1 and I 2 in group II) terminated the treatment protocol. In both groups, treated by US hath salt and common salt, respectively, the mean PASI score before treatment (18.6, ± 9.4 and 15.7 ± 7.1. respectively) decreased significantly al the end of the treatment (11.4 ± 6.1 and 11.4± 6.6, respectively). The mean percentage reduction of PASI score at the end of the treatment regimen, was higher in patients treated with IDS bath salt (34.8%) compared to patients treated with common salt (27.5%) (P > 0.05). The mean percentage reduction a month after termination of the treatment protocol was higher in patients treated with DS hath salt (43.6%) than in those treated with common salt (24%) (P > 0.05).

Conclusions The present study implies a beneficial effect to bathing wish either DS hath salt or common salt as a sole therapy for psoriasis vulgaris. However, we observed an enhanced beneficial effect of DS hath salt compared to common salt.