Magnesium lotion: Effective or just trendy?

Magnesium lotion has become a social media trend, with influencers claiming it improves sleep and treats issues like muscle soreness, arthritis and blood sugar imbalance.

The market has grown rapidly, now worth over $400 million, but scientific evidence is lacking. Experts note that skin acts as a barrier, not a sponge, and there’s no proof magnesium can be absorbed transdermally in meaningful amounts. Any perceived benefits are likely due to massage, moisturizing effects or placebo.

" You apply a cream or a lotion or an ointment that contains some active ingredient and, yeah, your skin looks better than maybe some place you didn't apply it," said Nicholas Theodosakis, M.D., Ph.d., a dermatologist and researcher at Harvard University. "But that's because the cream itself promotes skin health. Anything that comes in like a cream base or an ointment base is just automatically going to be good for the skin."

While dermatologists and sleep experts agree it’s generally safe and unlikely to cause harm, they caution that it hasn’t been proven effective and shouldn’t replace established medical treatments. Ultimately, magnesium lotion may make skin feel good and provide comfort, but its touted health benefits remain unsubstantiated.

Read more: NPR

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