If you've ever put topical magnesium onto freshly shaved legs, you probably remember it.

Immediately.

Because magnesium chloride is a brine.

And brine on disrupted skin can be spicy.

Why does magnesium sting?

Magnesium chloride is a mineral salt.

When dissolved in water at the concentrations used for topical magnesium products, you end up with a strong mineral solution.

Healthy intact skin may tolerate it beautifully.

But if the outer barrier has tiny disruptions, you're much more likely to feel:

• tingling
• prickling
• itching
• warmth
• stinging

And there are a lot of completely normal ways to temporarily disrupt the skin.

Shaving is probably the biggest one.

But also:

• exfoliation
• dry cracked skin
• scratching
• chafing
• friction
• very hot water

Shaving + magnesium

This deserves its own heading because it catches people all the time.

You shave your legs.

Your skin looks fine.

Then you apply magnesium.

And suddenly your legs are on fire.

Shaving can create microscopic irritation that you don't necessarily see.

Then you're putting mineral brine directly onto it.

I'd wait.

Apply magnesium later when the skin has settled.

Same goes for underarms.

Does stinging mean it isn't working for you?

Not necessarily.

A little transient tingling is pretty common.

But I also don't think there's any prize for enduring burning skin.

If it's uncomfortable:

use less

try another area

wait until the skin settles

or wash it off

Topical magnesium should be something you enjoy using.

Why does magnesium lotion usually feel gentler than magnesium spray?

This is exactly why we put magnesium into lotion.

Straight magnesium oil is essentially concentrated magnesium chloride brine.

A lotion surrounds that water phase with fats and oils.

The result is:

softer

creamier

less drying

easier to spread

much nicer for regular use

Especially if you're someone who wants topical magnesium every day.

Why feet are often easier

Another reason I like feet.

The skin on the soles is thicker than somewhere like the underarm.

You're also much less likely to have freshly shaved them.

Put the lotion on.

Put socks over it.

Done.

What if it suddenly starts stinging when it normally doesn't?

Look at the skin first.

Did you:

shave?

take a very hot bath?

scrub?

get dry from winter air?

wear something that rubbed the area?

Sometimes the changing variable is not magnesium.

It's your skin barrier.

The short version

Magnesium chloride is salty.

Broken or irritated skin doesn't love concentrated salt.

A good lotion makes the whole experience considerably gentler.

And if it burns?

You do not have to prove anything.

Move it somewhere else.

The feet rarely complain.

New to topical magnesium? Start with Magnesium Lotion: What It Is and How to Use It.