Magnesium shows promise for psoriasis, but the evidence is indirect and limited. No clinical trial has proven that taking magnesium supplements or applying magnesium to the skin directly clears psoriatic plaques. What research does support is that magnesium plays a role in skin cell growth, barrier repair, and inflammation, all of which go haywire in psoriasis. Its most compelling benefit may be helping your body use vitamin D, a nutrient closely tied to psoriasis severity.
How Magnesium Affects Psoriatic Skin
Psoriasis involves skin cells multiplying far too quickly and stacking up into thick, inflamed plaques. Magnesium is involved in several processes that go wrong in this cycle. It influences how quickly skin cells (keratinocytes) proliferate, how the skin barrier holds together, and how collagen is synthesized. Preclinical evidence suggests magnesium can modulate these processes in a direction that benefits inflammatory skin conditions including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne.
That said, “influences” is the key word. Magnesium is a cofactor in over 300 enzymatic reactions throughout the body, so it’s hard to isolate its specific effect on psoriatic plaques. No one has run a controlled trial giving magnesium to people with psoriasis and measuring plaque clearance. The biological rationale is there, but the direct clinical proof is not.
The Vitamin D Connection
This is where magnesium’s case gets stronger. Vitamin D deficiency is common in people with psoriasis, and vitamin D-based creams are among the most widely prescribed topical treatments for the condition. Your body’s ability to activate and use vitamin D depends on magnesium. The enzymes that convert vitamin D into its active form are magnesium-dependent, so if you’re low on magnesium, your vitamin D metabolism slows down.
One study found that magnesium supplementation raised vitamin D blood levels in people whose levels had previously been stubbornly low and unresponsive to vitamin D supplementation alone. In other words, if you’re taking vitamin D for your psoriasis and not seeing results, low magnesium could be part of the reason. Magnesium and vitamin K2 both work synergistically with vitamin D to increase its absorption and effectiveness. For anyone already on vitamin D therapy for psoriasis, making sure magnesium intake is adequate is a practical step that’s well supported by the science.
Dead Sea Salt Baths vs. Epsom Salt Soaks
People with psoriasis have traveled to the Dead Sea for relief for centuries, and Dead Sea water is exceptionally rich in magnesium. A 2005 study on people with dry, inflamed skin found that soaking in a 5% Dead Sea salt solution for 15 minutes improved skin barrier function, boosted hydration, and reduced inflammation. Multiple studies since have supported those findings.
Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths are often recommended as a more accessible alternative. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests adding two cups of Epsom salt to warm water and soaking for no more than 15 minutes daily for psoriasis. The salts help soften and remove scales, and the theory is that they deliver ions to the skin that help restore the balance needed for normal immune function in the skin barrier.
There’s an important caveat, though. No study has directly tested Epsom salt baths for psoriasis outcomes the way Dead Sea salt has been studied. Dead Sea salt contains a complex mineral profile beyond just magnesium, including potassium, calcium, and bromide, which may contribute to its effects. Epsom salt baths are generally safe and many people with psoriasis report softer, less scaly skin after regular use, but the scientific backing is borrowed from Dead Sea research rather than established on its own.
Soaking longer than the recommended 15 minutes can cause irritation, which is the last thing inflamed psoriatic skin needs.
Can You Absorb Magnesium Through Your Skin?
This is a common claim in the wellness space, and the science is not encouraging. Magnesium ions in solution carry a charge that prevents them from crossing the skin’s lipid (fat-based) barrier. When dissolved in water, magnesium ions become surrounded by water molecules, making them roughly 400 times larger than their bare size, essentially too big to pass through skin cell membranes.
Lab testing on human skin found that magnesium chloride solution performed no better than plain water at delivering magnesium across the skin. Certain cream formulations did slightly better, pushing about 25 to 30 micrograms through over 24 hours, but this is a negligible amount compared to the hundreds of milligrams your body needs daily. So while salt baths may help psoriasis plaques through softening, scale removal, and local ionic effects, they’re unlikely to meaningfully raise your overall magnesium levels. If you’re deficient, you’ll need to address that through food or oral supplements.
How Much Magnesium You Need
The recommended daily intake for magnesium is 400 to 420 mg for adult men and 310 to 320 mg for adult women, with slightly higher amounts during pregnancy. These numbers include magnesium from all sources: food, drinks, and supplements combined.
If you’re considering a supplement, the upper limit for supplemental magnesium (meaning magnesium from pills or powders, not food) is 350 mg per day for adults. Going above this can cause diarrhea, nausea, and cramping. Many people find that magnesium-rich foods are a better starting point: dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains are all strong sources.
The supplement forms most commonly recommended for absorption include magnesium glycinate and magnesium citrate. Magnesium oxide, often the cheapest option on shelves, is poorly absorbed and more likely to cause digestive side effects.
Who Should Be Cautious
Most healthy adults tolerate magnesium well, but people with reduced kidney function face real risk. Your kidneys are responsible for clearing excess magnesium from the blood. When kidney function declines, magnesium can accumulate to dangerous levels, a condition called hypermagnesemia. This is most commonly seen in people with chronic kidney disease who also take magnesium-containing supplements, laxatives, or antacids. Symptoms of magnesium excess typically don’t appear until blood levels are quite high, but they can include muscle weakness, low blood pressure, and in severe cases, cardiac complications.
If you have kidney disease or take medications that affect kidney function, checking with your doctor before adding magnesium is essential. For everyone else, staying within the 350 mg supplemental limit and getting the rest from food keeps you in safe territory.
Putting It Together
Magnesium is not a standalone psoriasis treatment. It won’t replace your prescribed therapies, and no study has shown it clears plaques on its own. But it plays a supporting role that’s worth paying attention to, particularly if you’re using vitamin D-based treatments or supplementing with vitamin D. Ensuring adequate magnesium intake may help those treatments work better.
For day-to-day comfort, regular Epsom salt or Dead Sea salt baths can soften plaques and ease scaling, with the best evidence behind Dead Sea salt specifically. Keep soaks to 15 minutes, use warm (not hot) water, and moisturize immediately after. On the dietary side, aiming for the full RDA through food and moderate supplementation is a reasonable, low-risk strategy that supports not just your skin but dozens of other body processes that tend to go sideways in chronic inflammatory conditions.