Before there was a brand, there was a wound that nothing could fix—until the ocean stepped in.
Our journey began not in a lab — but on the edge of the Atlantic, in Grates Cove, Newfoundland — a small, rugged outport where we live and work at the source of our raw material.
Terrence, living with Crohn’s disease and an ileostomy since he was a young teenager, developed a severe allergy to the plastic in his ostomy flange. This triggered raw, painful contact dermatitis across his abdomen. For over two years, he visited dermatologists and wound care specialists. Nothing helped. No prescription — not even steroids — and no over-the-counter product offered relief.
Then one day, a storm rolled through Grates Cove.
Washed up on the rocks was a brown seaweed—Laminaria digitata—slick with natural gel.
On instinct, Terrence applied it to his hands, which were cracked from woodworking. It started to quell the rawness almost immediately. Encouraged, he brought some seaweed home and applied it to the painful skin on his abdomen.
What happened next was undeniable: the burning calmed, the inflammation began to retreat—and for the first time in years, his skin felt like it was finally rebuilding itself.
Not from a synthetic treatment.
From seaweed.
This wasn’t a miracle—it was biology in motion. Nature’s defense system, doing what it’s evolved to do.
And it became the foundation for 7 Fathoms.
The Skin Barrier: A Bigger Story Than We Realized
Terrence’s experience revealed something bigger: how vulnerable all our skin can be under constant exposure.
His skin was reacting to the plastic in a medical device. But every day, people’s skin reacts to something: gloves, detergents, metals, weather, friction, frequent washing.
It became clear that the problem wasn’t just about one product or one condition. It was about the skin barrier—and how quickly it can wear down under repeated exposure to things most people can’t avoid.
Skin Under Siege: Environmental Exposure Isn’t Always Obvious
Every day, people tell us about skin that’s dry, raw, or constantly irritated from work they can’t avoid.
Not all skin challenges come from a diagnosis. Many people face daily exposure that wears their skin down gradually—until one day, it can’t bounce back.
Contact dermatitis—both irritant and allergic—is the most common type of occupational skin disease, accounting for up to 90% of all work-related skin conditions. This includes inflammation, itching, cracking, and, in more severe cases, blistering—especially on the hands.
Jobs with high risk include:
- Healthcare workers – constant handwashing, sanitizers, gloves
- Construction workers – cement, dust, gloves, harsh materials
- Chefs and food handlers – contact with nickel, wet work, cleaning agents
- Electricians – copper exposure, synthetic sleeves, glove use
- Hairdressers and cleaners – detergents, dyes, water exposure
- Fish harvesters and seafood workers – cold water, salt, fish proteins, and repeated friction from protective gear
For those in rural or coastal industries—like many here in Newfoundland and Labrador—skin exposure isn’t seasonal or occasional. It’s part of the job. And you don’t need to have a medical condition like Terrence to know how disruptive that can be.
Seaweed Doesn’t Have the Luxury of Shelter
Here’s why we trust seaweed so much.
Laminaria digitata and Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)—two hardy brown seaweeds found along our North Atlantic coast—survive in extreme conditions: UV rays, crashing surf, freezing temperatures, salt spray, and constant exposure to the elements.
Unlike land plants, they can’t retreat. They have no bark, no roots, no shade—no protection except what they create for themselves. To survive, they’ve evolved to produce powerful bioactive compounds that repair, hydrate, and defend against environmental stress.
And when applied to your skin, those same compounds offer a natural shield.
At 7 Fathoms, we extract our seaweed gently—preserving its full suite of compounds, including:
🌊 Fucoidan
A sulphated polysaccharide that draws water to the skin, calms inflammation, and helps support the lipid matrix that holds your skin barrier together.
🌊 Polyphenols
Antioxidant compounds that neutralize free radicals and help reduce visible irritation—defending your skin against UV rays and pollution, just as they protect seaweed in the ocean.
🌊 Beta-Glucans
Long-chain carbohydrates that help seaweed retain hydration and recover from stress. In skincare, they support the skin’s moisture barrier and promote resilience—especially after wind, salt, or frequent washing.
These aren’t trendy skincare ingredients—they’re how the seaweed survives. And through our products, your skin can too.
Today’s Skin Has a Lot to Deal With
Longer days mean more sun. More time outdoors means more exposure. And whether it’s UV rays, wind, sweat, smoke, or airborne pollution, your skin barrier works overtime to keep irritants out and moisture in.
That’s why seaweed bioactives matter. They’ve evolved in environments without shade or shelter—making them uniquely suited to support your skin in a world where exposure is constant.
Two Collections. One Mission.
At 7 Fathoms, our products are built for real skin.
Skin under pressure. Often overlooked. Ready for support.
Our Original Line, made with Laminaria digitata, offers deep hydration and calming support—ideal for sensitive skin, chronic irritation, and skin barrier challenges.
Our Thalasso Restore Line adds in Bladderwrack, rich in polyphenols, for added antioxidant protection and overnight recovery support.
No scents. No fluff. Just the resilience of North Atlantic seaweed applied where you need it most.
Real Skin, Real Stories
We often meet customers who’ve tried everything—and then find unexpected results with our seaweed formulations.
One woman bought our lotion for her boyfriend, whose hands were cracked from work.
At a holiday market, two women shared stories about their husbands—one a chef reacting to nickel in cookware, the other an electrician exposed to copper daily. Like Terrence, they couldn’t avoid these triggers—but they could support their skin barrier.
That’s the difference 7 Fathoms makes.
And it’s not just a few stories—40% of our customers are men.
Men are increasingly seeking effective, straightforward skincare solutions that address real-world challenges.
From Skin Breakdown to Skin Strength
Your skin is your shield—and it takes more hits than you realize. Whether it’s environmental stress, allergic reactions, or friction from gear and materials, your skin deserves the same kind of support seaweed gives itself: a system of hydration, defense, and resilience.
You don’t need a complicated routine.
You just need support that stands up to real-world exposure—straight from the sea.
