By Jessica Scarpati –
Framed as an ancient European tradition rediscovered for the modern age, beer spas have been brewing hype as the latest in luxury rejuvenation. Averaging about $150 to $200 for a 90-minute session, these day spas invite customers to relax in tubs of warm beer―or, more commonly in the U.S., water infused with hops, malts and herbal blends―while enjoying a cold pint and more conventional spa amenities. However, beer spas overhype hops benefits, as the touted therapeutic effects of hops are often exaggerated, leaving many to question whether the experience is more about novelty than real wellness.
Proponents, which seem largely to be the beer spas themselves, the sudsy soak will deliver larger-than-life beer benefits for your skin and hair.
“Beer’s main ingredients, hops and barley, have been cultivated for thousands of years as natural herbal medicines. They’re loaded with vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants to offer ample wellness benefits to help you feel and look like your best self,” claims Denver-based Oakwell Beer Spa, which purports its beer baths will do everything from smooth out fine lines to “stimulate metabolic rate and digestion.”
And while it’s true that the main ingredients of beer contain extracts that can make the skin look plumper or feel softer, experts say there’s more foam than flavor to these assertions nor are they exclusive to beer.
“I cannot confirm that any of those claimed health benefits are legit,” dermatologist Jeremy Fenton, MD, told Bustle. “I believe there is some theory to support the possibility that they may exist, but there is certainly no definitive scientific evidence to support them.”
In an interview with VinePair, dermatologist Blair Murphy Rose, MD, acknowledged that she was “not aware of well-designed clinical trials investigating the benefit of soaking in beer for the hair and skin” but that it was possible it could have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits for the skin.
New York-based dermatologist Hannah Kopelman, DO, shared a similar takeaway with Woman’s World.
“Alcohol has antiseptic properties and can help cleanse the skin, although it can also be drying. Hops, a primary component of beer, contain antioxidants that can help combat free radicals, potentially improving skin health. Yeast, another key ingredient, contains B vitamins and can help maintain skin’s moisture levels, which might be beneficial for dry skin conditions,” she explained. “It’s important to note that while these components have beneficial properties, there is limited scientific evidence to support the efficacy of beer baths specifically in treating these [skin] conditions.”
Indeed, the science behind beer spas falls a little flat upon closer inspection. One oft-cited study intended to legitimize the ability of barley to reduce wrinkles is often stripped of some important context: it was conducted on only 29 people and the barley was bioengineered into a serum. Beyond this, participants also used sunscreen during the study period.
Similarly, proponents often reference other studies to bolster the claim that hops have positive effects on our mood. Some link it to a sedative effect, but this is when they are ingested in the form of beer or nonalcoholic beer. The first study looked at this in quail, not humans, and the latter studied just 17 people. Another favorite claim is that science has shown hops can help with stress, depression and anxiety. But again, there were limitations as the hops were ingested in a capsule and only 36 people completed the study.
As to the recurring claim that beer spas are a centuries-old tradition favored by Czech royalty for their health properties: it doesn’t exactly hold water, either.
“This is certainly not true,” Libor Zajic, a European brewing history expert at Masaryk University told BBC. “It’s a marketing trick of companies that operate beer spas–-businesses that are a modern invention. Beer may have been added to baths in the Middle Ages, as many other substances were, but certainly not with any deeper intention.”
Despite the uncertainties and some overhyped benefits, there doesn’t appear to be any real harm to enjoying a beer spa. Many sell packages for couples and groups and for craft beer lovers. They can be a fun, relaxing alternative to socializing at your local brewery. But as far as hydrotherapy? You can find it in your home bathtub.
“Like any other hot bath, these beer baths have the additional benefits of improving sleep quality and lowering blood pressure, which lowers the risk of stroke and heart disease,” notes the Columbia Science Review. “But because these effects can be achieved with any soothing hot bath, it isn’t necessarily worth it for tourists to invest in a ‘spa treatment’ like this one.”
