Paraffin therapy: use of the method in cosmetology

• What is included in cosmetic paraffin
• Indications for the procedure
• How is facial paraffin therapy done?
• What happens after paraffin application
• The effect of the procedure, how often it is done
• Paraffin therapy at home: nuances
• Contraindications
• Reviews from people
• How much does paraffin therapy cost in a salon?

Today, the list of services of most beauty salons and beauty salons includes a paraffin therapy procedure, which is aimed at restoring and rejuvenating the skin. Paraffin therapy is successfully used not only for the face, but also for:

• hands;
• legs;
• bodies.

In this article we will look at what magical properties cosmetic paraffin has and how the procedure will help make your face fresher and younger.

Cosmetic paraffin

For the procedure, they do not use ordinary paraffin.
Cosmetic paraffin should not be confused with ordinary paraffin. The procedure uses a product of the highest quality, which does not contain any dyes. On the contrary, it is often additionally enriched with various components beneficial to the skin (active substances, vitamins).

Often found, for example, honey or fruit paraffin, as well as with various oils and aloe juice. It all depends on what main functions are assigned to it (softening, moisturizing, nutrition, anti-inflammatory, etc.).

Types of paraffin

For cosmetic purposes, it is customary to use special, purified paraffin. It comes in two types:

• Hot (sold in solid form, requires pre-heating to a temperature of 53-55 degrees, with such initial data it becomes viscous and viscous).
• Cold (sold in creamy form, applied to the skin without prior preparation).

Hot paraffin

Cold paraffin
A special device is used to heat hot paraffin. If you don’t want to spend money on purchasing it, use a regular saucepan with boiling water and a ladle to organize a water bath. Apply paraffin heated in this way to the skin with great care to avoid facial burns.

Paraffin bath

Homemade paraffin bath

Paraffin can be classified not only by consistency and temperature, but also by its composition. Ready-made paraffin used for therapeutic baths and masks does not contain harmful impurities or dyes, and is enriched with plant extracts, vitamins and microelements.

If you purchase regular white cosmetic paraffin, then after heating you can add additional components to its composition. Most often, liquid vitamins, essential oils, natural vegetable oils, and even some food products (for example, cocoa powder or natural honey) are used for these purposes.

Indications for facial paraffin therapy

The procedure will perfectly help those people whose skin is dehydrated, excessively dry, and feels tight.

Paraffin therapy also works well with redness and peeling, and will be useful for mature, aging facial skin.

The procedure is truly very popular during the cold period, when due to wind and frost, the skin of the face often becomes chapped and roughened. Lack of vitamins also affects. However, dryness and dehydration can be a problem at any time of the year, so paraffin therapy is always relevant.

Recipes for paraffin face masks

When using a home remedy, you should be aware of the contraindications. So, it is prohibited to use when:

• high blood pressure;
• angina pectoris;
• chronic diseases of the respiratory tract;
• rosacea;
• ulcers on the face;
• redness.

In other cases, the product is completely considered safe when properly prepared. Let's consider options for paraffin face masks at home.

1. For all skin types
   . Cleanses from toxins, harmful substances and various types of impurities. Acts as an emollient, nourishes with vitamins and nutrients. • paraffin – 50 g; • olive oil - 1 tbsp; • cocoa butter - 1 tsp. Place the paraffin in a dry container and heat it in a water bath. As soon as the main component is ready, add oils. Mix thoroughly and distribute by layering (as described above). After a quarter of an hour, carefully remove.
2. For oily type
   . To eliminate greasy shine, it is recommended to add essential oils to the product - grapefruit, lemon and orange. They also regulate the functioning of the sebaceous glands and improve a person’s mood. Now let's look at how to make a paraffin face mask at home. You will need the following ingredients: • paraffin - 3 tbsp; • citrus essential oils, 5 drops of each type.

   Melt the main component in a water bath. In the meantime, prepare 2 gauze napkins, folded in 2-4 layers. You also need to cut out holes for the eyes, nose and mouth. Add oils to the prepared paraffin and mix. We lay the gauze and apply 1-2 layers of the main component on top. Then we distribute the second napkin and 3-4 layers of paraffin. We wrap it in polyethylene and place a terry towel on top. Let stand for 1 hour and carefully remove. Rinse with warm water and apply a light serum.

3. Rejuvenating mask
   . Suitable for all types of aging mature skin. It helps eliminate peeling, replenish vitamin deficiencies, and improve the synthesis of collagen and elastin. The epidermis is tightened, wrinkles are eliminated. Take: • paraffin - 6 tablespoons; • apricot oil – 30 ml; • shea extract - 1 tsp.

   Prepare 2 containers for heating the main product over steam. Place 1 spoon in the first container, and the rest in the second. Melt, and add essential oils to one with a smaller amount, stir. Apply layer by layer of oil-paraffin mixture to a cleansed face. Then carefully lay out the gauze napkin and evenly distribute the mass from the second container. After 20 minutes, carefully remove the composition, wash the skin with soap and moisturize with any base oil.

A paraffin face mask at home is made in a course of 15 procedures, then a break (2 weeks) and can be repeated again.

How is facial paraffin therapy done?

Facial paraffin therapy
The process itself is simple, but for home use there are some difficulties and concerns, which will be discussed below.

In general, the paraffin therapy procedure consists of the following stages :

1st – thorough cleansing of the facial skin from decorative cosmetics and impurities;

2nd – applying various nourishing creams and serums (if desired);

3rd – forming a paraffin mask:

• Cosmetic paraffin melted in the bath is applied with a special brush in a thin layer over the entire face, naturally bypassing the areas around the eyes (cotton pads are placed on them);
• a gauze mask for paraffin therapy is placed on top of the applied thin layer of paraffin, in which there are cutouts for the eyes, mouth and nose;
• several more layers of molten paraffin are applied to the napkin, a film is applied on top, and then a warm towel for better heat retention;

4th – waiting time for the mask to work (you need to wait 20 minutes for the paraffin to have its cosmetic effect);

5th – removing the napkin and paraffin residues from the face;

6th – lubricate the skin with cream according to your skin type.

Video

Algorithm for the procedure

Paraffin masks for facial skin care can be applied in several ways. The most commonly practiced methods are:

• Applying paraffin in one layer over a moisturizer or collagen-containing composition to enhance their absorption.
• Applying paraffin to previously cleansed skin in several layers. Each subsequent one is applied after the previous one has hardened.
• Applying paraffin using a gauze bandage. The first layer of the composition is applied to clean skin, then fixed with a gauze bandage; in the future, it will be necessary to apply paraffin on top of it another 5-6 times, but without the use of additional materials.

Regardless of the paraffin mask method chosen, you must first treat your facial skin with a scrub to cleanse it of surface impurities and dead cells.

The average duration of paraffin exposure is 20 minutes, after which the film from the hot or unabsorbed remnants of the cold paraffin should be removed, the face should be washed and an additional moisturizer should be used to consolidate the positive results.

Masks should be done no more than 2 times a week, with a break of 2 to 4 days. The full course is approximately 15-20 procedures; if necessary, paraffin therapy can be performed once to solve specific problems (for example, eliminating peeling or the effect of chapped skin).

What happens after paraffin application

Of course, we are wondering what is happening under the paraffin mask and why the skin after the procedure is moisturized, smooth and soft.

The thing is that after contact with the face, cosmetic paraffin gives off some of its heat, due to which the areas of the skin under it warm up by 1–2 °C. As a result, a kind of sauna effect is created, skin pores begin to open, and sweating increases. However, the water leaving the pores encounters an obstacle from the paraffin “blockade”, which is why the skin has no choice but to absorb it back.

Now as for the paraffin itself: the medicinal product, as noted above, does not contain any dyes, but, on the contrary, includes various beneficial substances, vitamins, and oils. These substances penetrate better into steamed skin.

As a result of the procedure, under the influence of heat, the top layer of the skin softens well, local blood circulation increases, which leads to tissue restoration and the release of toxins.

Why don’t toxin molecules, like water, sink back into the skin? Yes, because the sizes of their molecules are much larger than water. Therefore, they can get out, but it’s difficult to get back in.

Mechanism of action and indications for the procedure

The mechanism of action of paraffin therapy is due to the use of cosmetic paraffin, which has a high heat capacity and low thermal conductivity (it gives off heat very slowly). When paraffin heated to a liquid state is applied to the skin, it has two types of effects:

• thermal - promotes heating of the epidermis and dermis by 1-3 degrees (increasing the temperature of the skin promotes the expansion of capillaries and increases blood flow, which leads to an acceleration of metabolism in cells, and steams the skin, as a result of which its pores open, cleansed of impurities and sebaceous secretions glands);
• compression - when cooling, paraffin decreases in volume by 10-12%, forms a hard film on the surface of the skin, which puts pressure on the underlying tissue, which helps to increase the turgor and elasticity of the skin fibers (provides a lifting effect).

Indications:

• dry, dehydrated skin;
• intense peeling of the epidermis (the problem is especially relevant in the winter season);
• decreased skin tone and elasticity, changes in facial contours;
• wrinkles;
• swelling of the face;
• prevention of premature skin aging.

Video: “What is paraffin therapy for the face?”

“Paraffin therapy is an incredibly pleasant and useful procedure. After treatment, the skin becomes soft, turgor increases noticeably (but the lifting effect becomes noticeable only after 3-4 sessions), and wrinkles are smoothed out. There are no unpleasant sensations at the time of the procedure, only warmth is felt, so during the procedure I rest.”

The effect of paraffin therapy, how often it is done

The result of the procedure is immediately visible: the skin is soft and smooth, like a baby’s, and it feels moisturized. Small wrinkles are also smoothed out, the face looks younger and glows with health.

As for deep wrinkles, they don’t give up so easily; usually beauty injections like Botox, Xeomin, Perlane, Juvederm, etc. are used. However, the severity of skin folds after a paraffin procedure may become less pronounced.

Paraffin therapy can also make the oval of the face clearer, although, to be fair, in order to maintain this lifting effect, the procedure must be carried out regularly.

It is recommended to do paraffin therapy once every 7–10 days; the effect of the procedure lasts for about this time.

Paraffin therapy at home

Paraffin therapy at home can also be successfully performed, but you need to understand that this is our face. You should monitor the temperature of the paraffin before application even more carefully than, for example, in the case of your hands, so as not to get burned.

Helpers will be needed for the home procedure

Also, for convenience, you may need a special bath for paraffin therapy, where you need to melt the paraffin. However, some girls have gotten the hang of it and heat it in ordinary saucepans using a water bath.

Another difficulty with home use is that you will need an assistant, since doing everything carefully and safely without anyone’s help is quite a difficult task.

At the same time, you can arrange, for example, with a friend the so-called. “beauty evening”, pampering yourself with various pleasant procedures, including facial paraffin therapy.

Several recommendations for use

You need to be very careful when making paraffin face masks at home, since if the component melts incorrectly, you can burn the epidermis. So, the heating temperature is from 48 to 52 degrees. After preparing it, you need to check whether the product is hot or not. To do this, apply it with a special stick to a tender spot on the hand (wrist) and evaluate the result. The product should be warm, pleasant, but in no case scalding.

It is important to remember that paraffin that has already been melted and used is not suitable for reuse. For women working with a cosmetic component for the first time, we will share a few tips:

• You should only use dry containers for melting. The main thing is that no liquid gets in during cooking. Otherwise, you may get burned.
• We heat the substance to a viscous state. Only in this form there will be no problems with application. In order not to touch the hair on your head, you need to carefully pull it into a ponytail and cover your head with a clean cotton scarf.
• It is also worth paying special attention to your facial skin. It should be dry and clean.
• Before applying the prepared paraffin, the epidermis needs to be lubricated with a small amount of Vaseline.

Advice! You should not neglect the rules, otherwise you can harm your cover.

Paraffin therapy: contraindications

The procedure is not performed if:

• acne;
• noticeable rosacea;
• redness of the face;
• high blood pressure;
• skin inflammations;
• excessive growth of facial hair (hypertrichosis);
• multiple moles and warts;
• oncological diseases;
• herpes;
• pregnancy.

If you have moles, warts, papillomas and other growths on your face, you can consult a doctor to have them examined to see if they are benign. If it is confirmed, these elements can be deleted. For example, today the method of laser removal of nevi is very popular, as it is quick and painless.

To get rid of other problems that are contraindications for paraffin therapy, read: “Types of acne (acne) and methods of their treatment”, “Laser treatment of rosacea”.

Contraindications

The use of paraffin for facial skin care has many contraindications. As a rule, cosmetologists do not recommend such a procedure to their patients in the following cases:

• Ulcers and inflammatory processes on the skin.
• Vascular diseases.
• Hypertrichosis.
• Moles, warts and other benign formations.
• Blood clotting disorder.

The list of possible restrictions is still much wider. Paraffin therapy should also not be carried out during pregnancy, with high blood pressure, ischemia, liver cirrhosis, or diabetes. In addition, the most important contraindication is individual intolerance to the components of the composition used.

Reviews

We did the procedure for hands and face together with my mother at home. Well, in fact, only I did the face; my mother was afraid. I really liked the effect, although I got tired of constantly monitoring the temperature of the paraffin. My face became so moisturized and pleasant to the touch. In general, I will take note of this procedure.

I would never have thought before that paraffin could be used for such benefits for the skin. But I tried paraffin therapy on the advice of a friend in a beauty salon and simply fell in love with this procedure. Pleasant, warm, great aroma, and then the skin is just like a baby’s. As for home use, I’m still thinking, I would like to save money, but without consequences.

From my experience I will say: this is one of the most pleasant procedures for the face and body. Also, I probably only like massage, but that’s a completely different story.

Indications and contraindications for spa treatments

Paraffin spa treatment can be used on any part of the body: face, neck, arms and legs. It is suitable for those who have dry skin, and also have peeling, cracks, post-acne, scars, hyperpigmentation. This procedure is also often used in beauty salons to combat cellulite.

But paraffin therapy also has its contraindications. It should not be used for: • pustular skin diseases; • dilated vessels; • eczema; • acne stages 2 and 3; • seborrhea; • herpes; • wounds; • abrasions; • rosacea; • atherosclerosis; • acute inflammatory processes; • cardiovascular diseases; • diabetes mellitus; • pregnancy; • during the lactation period.