Natty, the Dead Sea has so much salt in it that you naturally just float. It isn't really like water, it has the consistency of soup. Nothing lives in it because of all the salt. I think they use the same minerals - potassium and magnesium in a lot of topical applications like coal tar (Alphosyl). I buy packets of the salt in Holland & Barrett, it cost about £3.99 for a jumbo pack and bathe in it once a week. My skin is always improved afterwards and it is very soothing generally. Of course it isn't the same as actually going to the Dead Sea but it is the best one can do in the UK. The scenery is quite weird - it is more or less desert so there is nothing except mountains and caverns all around the sea. I read something on the net that says it is best to go for around 6 weeks and do an 'intensive' programme of bathing, sunlight and mudbaths to get the best out of it. People are usually then totally clear for months if not years, but even a day in the water will help.
