Every winter without fail, psoriasis takes up residence on my skin, presenting as red patches dotted at random across my limbs — and then every summer when I dip my form in the ocean, it disappears. I had attributed this to the effects of the sun and maybe the other attendant benefits of being away, such as lowered stress. But a chat with clinical aesthetician Pam Marshall made me reconsider. “Don’t forget that seaweed is rich in minerals and specifically vitamins A, B12, and C, which can create the calming effect to our stratum corneum (the outer layer of our skin) you experience.”
It makes sense. Seaweed is a powerful antioxidant, and is packed with all that other goodness, so why wouldn’t it follow that some of that might benefit skin when applied or encountered topically? Tim Van Berkel, co-founder of The Cornish Seaweed Company, certainly believes it does. “seaweed polysaccharides help prevent eczema and have an overall hydrating effect on the skin. They may also speed up wound recovery and reduce inflammation,” he says. Sounds about right, based on my experience.
