Paraffin wax: many benefits for the skin and joints
Flantaraf in what comes on the wax paraffin (Paraffin wax), highlighted the related information:
What is paraffin wax?
Paraffin wax is a hard, waxy substance composed primarily of certain types of hydrocarbons with a melting point between 48-66°C. Paraffin wax has a white color, or it may be colorless in some cases. You may encounter paraffin wax in stores under the name Wax only or under the name Paraffin.
Paraffin wax is usually obtained from petroleum jelly by treating petroleum jelly by special methods, and it is also possible to obtain this wax by other industrial methods as well.
The uses of this wax are many and varied. It is possible to use this waxy substance in:
- Manufacture of some household products and materials, such as candles and matches.
- cosmetic industry.
- Perfume and aroma industries, where paraffin wax is used to extract pleasant aromas from flowers.
- Some alternative treatments. Paraffin wax treatments are often applied to the hands, for example, for various medical purposes.
Paraffin wax uses and benefits
Paraffin wax has many potential benefits, some of which are:
1. Moisturizing the skin and increasing its smoothness
Regular application of paraffin wax treatments may help moisturize the skin and make it smoother, due to paraffin wax's ability to:
- Gently exfoliate the skin to rid it of dead skin cells.
- Raising moisture levels in the skin and locking moisture in the skin gives the skin a smooth appearance.
- Opening closed skin pores.
2. Relieve bone and joint pain
Paraffin wax is one of the types of heat therapy, the use of which can bring many benefits to the skeletal and muscular system, as the topical application of warm paraffin wax may help to achieve the following benefits:
- Improving the ability to move some connective tissues in the body.
- Improving and strengthening blood circulation.
- Reducing joint stiffness.
- Reduce swelling.
For this reason, paraffin wax may sometimes be used to combat and mitigate some diseases and problems of the skeletal and muscular system, such as:
- For some types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, paraffin wax may help relieve the pain and stiffness associated with these conditions.
- Muscle infections or joint stiffness may result from many factors, such as fractures, ligament ruptures (Sprains), and undergoing some surgeries.
- Fibromyalgia (Fibromyalgia).
- Other health problems may reduce the ability to move joints freely.
The use of this type of wax may also help relieve pain and lubricate the joints before starting to exercise.
3. Other uses
Paraffin wax treatments can be used for other purposes, such as:
- Resist some skin problems such as eczema.
- Care for the health of the skin around the nails.
How to use paraffin wax
To use this wax, it is recommended to do the following:
- 2 kg of paraffin wax is melted at a low temperature in a water bath, taking care to stir it from time to time to speed up the melting process. A pleasant-smelling natural oil is added to the mixture during the wax melting process.
- The melted wax is left to a temperature of 51°C or a little lower, at which point the wax is ready to use. Wax temperature can be measured using a thermometer.
- The skin to be waxed is cleaned with soap and water, then the skin is completely dried, after which the foot or hand is slowly lowered into the warm wax until the wax level reaches the upper end of the ankle or wrist.
- The foot or hand is removed from the wax, and after the wax has dried a little, the area is re-immersed in the wax, but to a lower depth so that the level of the wax reaches levels lower than those reached by the wax in the previous time so that the wax does not seep into the wax shell Dry the edges, this may cause burning of the skin.
- The area is re-dipped in wax 10-12 times.
- The wax-covered skin is wrapped with a plastic wrap over a piece of cloth. After 20 minutes, the wax is removed from the skin.
Paraffin wax side effects
Sometimes using this wax can cause some damages, such as:
- Heat rash, especially when this wax is used by someone with very sensitive skin.
- Slight swelling may appear when the wax is used by people with chemical sensitivity.
- Burns or blisters may occur when using very hot wax.
How can the damages of paraffin wax be avoided?
Before using this wax for any of the mentioned purposes, be sure to adhere to the following:
- Avoid using paraffin wax on the skin if the person has health problems such as poor blood circulation, diabetic neuropathy, and skin allergies.
- Avoid using paraffin wax on skin with rashes, blisters, or wounds. It is best to wait until the skin has fully recovered before using this wax.
- Adhere to the instructions for use, and avoid heating the wax to high temperatures, especially since paraffin is highly flammable.
- The temperature of paraffin should not exceed 51 degrees Celsius when starting to use it.