Grounding for Skin Health: How Connecting to the Earth May Reduce Inflammation and Support Healing

Our innate relationship with the earth:

Over the past several decades, research has been uncovering a fascinating connection between our bodies and the natural electrical current of the Earth — a practice called grounding or earthing. This simple act of making direct contact with the Earth’s surface may have powerful effects on inflammation, immunity, and overall well-being.

The Science of the Earth’s Current

The Earth generates a subtle but continuous direct current (DC) energy. Interestingly, DC energy is also how our bodies operate — it powers everything from our heartbeat and muscle contractions to our brain’s ability to think. When our conductive bodies touch the Earth (through bare feet, skin contact, or grounding devices), we become part of this global electrical circuit.

Grounding and the Healing Response

Multiple studies have shown that grounding can:

• Reduce pain and inflammation

• Improve circulation and tissue oxygenation - this is important with pain and skin conditions 

• Lower stress and promote better sleep

• Support immune system regulation

• Accelerate wound healing

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For example, research has demonstrated measurable changes in white blood cell counts, cytokines, and other immune markers when subjects were grounded versus ungrounded (PMID: 25848315, PMCID: PMC4378297). Grounding has also been shown to reduce pain following exercise-induced muscle damage and speed recovery.

Why This Matters for Skin Conditions

Chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis are not just surface problems — they are systemic inflammatory conditions. Inflammation drives redness, itching, and skin barrier breakdown. Grounding may help regulate inflammatory responses at the immune level, which can:

• Reduce flare frequency and severity

• Support skin barrier repair

• Improve overall tissue healing

When addressing inflammation at its root, grounding could be a valuable adjunct in managing chronic inflammatory skin disorders alongside dietary, lifestyle, and topical strategies.

How to Start Grounding

• Walk barefoot on natural surfaces like grass, sand, or soil for 20–30 minutes daily

• Sit or lie on the ground during outdoor time

• Use indoor grounding tools such as mats or bed sheets designed to connect to the Earth’s energy

The Takeaway

Grounding is safe, inexpensive, and accessible — and research continues to suggest it may be a potent tool in reducing inflammation and supporting healing across multiple systems, including the skin. While more clinical studies are needed, especially in dermatology, the early evidence is promising enough to make grounding a simple, supportive practice in holistic skin care.

 References:

• PMID: 36481428, PMCID: PMC10105020, DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.001

• PMID: 31831261, DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2019.10.005

• PMID: 25848315, PMCID: PMC4378297, DOI: 10.2147/JIR.S69656