“Pimples made me stop taking magnesium oil, but then the pain got worse again,” I recently heard from someone. I often get reactions that magnesium oil has pimples, itching and other unpleasant side effects. What side effects are there and how do you deal with them?
Burning feeling
The first noticeable unpleasant side effect of magnesium may be a burning sensation accompanied by red coloring. This indicates that the concentration of 31% (pure magnesium oil) is still too high for you at this time.
Magnesium has a relaxing and dilating effect on the blood vessels. In case of a significant magnesium deficiency, the oil will immediately open the capillaries in and under the skin. This also happens if you suddenly hold ice-cold hands under the hot tap. That hurts.
Rinse off the magnesium chloride immediately with (plenty of) water. It may take a while for the burning sensation to subside. The capillaries cannot close again immediately and blood flow has already been started. Hence the red coloring. This is the improved blood flow.
Another cause could be a wound. Sometimes wounds are so small that you don't even see them. But they still burn when you put magnesium oil on them. Magnesium chloride is a salt. So when you rub magnesium oil into a wound, it is the same as rubbing salt into the wound and that hurts.
To supplement the magnesium deficiency, it is best to start with a low-dose magnesium foot bath. Use this daily or every other day. Increase the concentration a little more and more. Do not exceed a 10% solution with magnesium flakes. But the higher dosed foot baths with pure magnesium oil. Until you can use the oil pure on the skin.
Side effect | A burning sensation and red coloring or to a lesser extent a tingling sensation. |
Possible cause 1 | The magnesium dilates the blood vessels (capillaries). With a significant magnesium deficiency, this can have the same effect as suddenly holding ice-cold hands in hot water. |
Possible cause 2 | You have a wound. Magnesium is a salt and putting salt into a wound hurts. |
Direct remedy | Rinse immediately with water. Magnesium chloride dissolves in water and will rinse off the skin with the water. |
Solution 1 | Take a low dose foot bath daily or every other day, and increase this concentration until you can tolerate the oil on your skin. |
Solution 2 | Wait until the wound has healed and the skin is healthy again. |
Extra information | Some people absorb magnesium better through a bath or foot bath than through the oil directly on the skin. |
Itch
The second noticeable side effect of magnesium is usually itching and a 'seawater' feeling. Just like when you swim in the sea, the chloride remains in a layer on your skin. This can cause itching. The chloride can also cause a dry skin, and dry skin is also more prone to itching. In addition, magnesium detoxifies and the more waste products are in your sweat, the more the skin can itch.
You can solve this by applying the oil, leaving it on for 10 minutes (that is the time your skin needs to absorb the magnesium) and rinsing the remainder off with water. For example, you can apply the magnesium oil 10 minutes before you shower.
It is also possible to rub the skin with a cream, lotion, body butter or oil. Preferably after washing off the oil (but not necessarily). This prevents dehydration of the skin.
Side effect | Itching skin. |
Possible cause 1 | The chloride remains in a layer on your skin and can cause your skin to get dry. |
Possible cause 2 | Through detoxification, there are waste products in your sweat that remain on the skin. |
Direct remedy | Leave the magnesium oil on your skin for 10 minutes and then rinse off. |
Solution 1 | Apply a nice cream, body lotion, body butter or oil to your skin. |
Extra information | Magnesium body cream from Zechsal is wonderful for dry skin. You can even use it as a face cream (but make sure that you don't put it in your eyes). |
Pimples
The third side effect, which usually only occurs the next day or a few days later, consists of pimples. Purulent bumps that can sometimes become ugly ulcers. If they break (wound), in combination with magnesium oil they cause a burning sensation. This is the side effect that often causes the most anxiety and makes people stop taking magnesium oil.
JUST CONTINUE with magnesium! The cause is detoxification. First, magnesium pulls waste products from the skin. In some people this causes itching and/or smelly sweat, in other people this is manifested by pimples. Secondly, magnesium is a very important mineral that helps in the absorption of a number of vitamins and other minerals. When your body finally has 'sufficient' magnesium and vitamins available again, it can start cleaning up. Waste products that were previously stored in fat tissue and muscle tissue can now be removed from the body. This will partly happen via the kidneys and you pee them out. But if the skin is closer, your body can also decide to throw them out through a pimple. Just cleaning up, a sign that you are getting healthier.
If you suffer a lot from pimples, there are several things you can do:
- Wait until these pimples have healed and then apply the magnesium oil less often
- Apply the magnesium oil to another area that is less visible to the public
- Switch (temporarily) to another product with a lower concentration (such as magnesium cream) or use a supplement that you can swallow (read about the disadvantages of taking magnesium here)
- Switch to magnesium foot baths
Side effect | Pimples. |
Possible cause 1 | Detoxification. |
Direct remedy | Wait until the pimples have healed. |
Solution | Continue with magnesium supplementation. The pimples will disappear over time. |
Extra information | You can treat nasty pimples and ulcers with a paste of Vitamin E oil and Vitamin C powder. Take half a teaspoon of vitamin C powder and add just as much vitamin E oil to it until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to the pimple/ulcer/weird spot and stick a band aid over it (provided you are not allergic to band aids). |
I personally had all three known side effects of magnesium oil. The first time I got the oil on my hands I was yodelling in pain. Immediately washed hands under the tap until it became bearable. I started with very light dosed foot baths (1%, 3%, 6% etc). Then I switched to foot baths above 10% with oil until I could tolerate the oil. Still not on my hands and arms, but on my legs. It was very itchy, so I put the oil on before showering and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then I started getting little pimples on my thighs. That was a surprise. But it didn't bother me much and I like to wear long pants or a long dress, so no one noticed. Within a few weeks they were completely gone.
Miraculously, the deep cracks on my feet have also healed. I have very dry skin and it just cracks open. On my heels, the sides of my feet, but in winter also on my shins and thighs. I had the cracks on my feet all year round. Quite annoying and very noticeable when you take a magnesium foot bath. Of course I rubbed my feet every day. I've tried all kinds of foot creams, regular creams and even pure lanolin, but it didn't help at all. Until after two or three months of foot baths I suddenly discovered that the cracks had completely disappeared. I didn't even notice when that happened. But I'm very happy with it.
Have you also had side effects after using magnesium? What bothered you and what did you do about it? Leave your comment below.
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