You may think that youth and beauty will lead you down the skincare aisle, but what if you need to take a different path? There are many roads to anti-ageing wellness, some of which will lead you all over the world. From the Dead Sea to wellness centres in Chicago, there are many locations around the globe that can deal with psoriasis, soothe eczema or even just help your skin to look younger and fresher. Let’s take a look at some of the world’s top skin treatment locations.
1. The Dead Sea: According to anti-ageing wellness expert Kate Stinchfield, ‘On the border of Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is heralded as the world’s best natural psoriasis treatment centre. At its low altitude—1,300 feet below sea level—you can safely soak up a lot of sun (which can help clear the chronic skin condition) without getting burned. The extra atmosphere through which sunlight must travel scatters the ultraviolet rays, so you absorb a broader spectrum of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light. This unique combination of light is thought to provide the primary benefit to psoriasis patients, but the Dead Sea’s high salt and mineral content is also believed to aid treatment. Bathing in the sea is free (once you get there). The full monty—say, a 21-day package at the popular Ein Bokek hotel, which includes twice-weekly medical checkups, scalp care, and dermatologist-prescribed ointments—will cost you about $950 (in addition to airfare) during the winter.’
2. Blue Lagoon (Iceland): ‘Many people with psoriasis have reported that their scales disappeared after spending a few weeks at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon treatment clinic near Reykjavik,’ Stinchfield details. ‘Utilising the lagoon’s minerals, silica, and algae, the clinic’s team of dermatologists and nurses treated 6,000 patients in 2005. A spot at the clinic requires a dermatologist’s referral, and the centre’s 100° to 106° geothermal seawater is reserved for guests only. The centre also offers UVB light therapy and encourages healthy eating and exercise. During the peak season (June through August), a single room runs $100 per night. Double rooms start at about $140.’
3. La Roche-Posay (France): ‘This small town’s spring water is rich in selenium,’ Stinchfield points out. ‘A selenium deficiency is believed to play a role in psoriasis and other skin conditions. The dermatologists and psychologist at La Roche-Posay Thermal Centre treat patients—with conditions ranging from eczema and psoriasis to scarring and post-burn complications—with a combination of bathing and counselling as well as the drinking of local water. The centre also specialises in children…While a trip to the treatment centre is a pretty penny, La Roche-Posay products are sold online and in some drugstores for around $25.’
4. Mavena Derma Centre (Chicago): Stinchfield outlines, ‘This Chicago–area day clinic is the only treatment centre in the United States that uses balneophototherapy. Intended to re-create the conditions of the Dead Sea, the therapy involves soaking in brine followed by exposure to UVB light. Mavena experts say their results compare favourably to those achieved at the Dead Sea. The clinic also offers educational programs, lifestyle counselling, and stress management. One treatment, which includes a Dead Sea salt bath and phototherapy, runs for $135.’
5. Soap Lake (Washington): ‘At SoapLake in central Washington, you can take treatment into your own hands’, says Stinchfield. ‘There are no formal treatment centres or clinics, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation, making SoapLake an affordable, do-it-yourself option. You can book a room at one of the nearby hotels. Popular remedies include soaks in the lake coupled with self-serve mudpacks applied during sunbathing. The price: Only what it takes to get you there.’
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