Paraffin hand treatment

Hands are the part of the body that suffers the most from environmental pollution, dry, cold or hot air and chemical substances. They are also a part of the body, along with the face, that people first notice. A handshake tells a lot about a person, and not just the grip, but the quality of the skin too.

Hands do need pampering just like the rest of the body, and probably even more. Sometimes it is not enough to apply a hand lotion every now and then. When hands are neglected for long, their skin becomes dry, cracked and rough, and nobody likes that. Fortunately, paraffin wax treatment can really save the day and everyone should include it in their beauty routine.

What is paraffin wax?

Paraffin is a name given to a group of compounds belonging to the group of alkane hydrocarbon family. It is usually white, odorless and tasteless and has a low melting point. Paraffin has the ability to keep hot for long time and to transfer it to other objects. It is used to make candles, wax paper, and it is often used on fruits, especially apples and vegetables like capsicum, to give them a shiny, waxy look.

Why is paraffin good for hands?

Because of its ability to hold on heat and transfer it to other objects, paraffin gently and slowly heats the skin and this increases circulation. As a result, the skin becomes smoother, toned and more elastic.

Paraffin rehydrates and moisturizes the hands, opens the pores and enables release of toxins. It also helps against aches and skin ailments. It is recommended for persons suffering from arthritis, osteoarthritis and bursitis. It relaxes the muscles and the skin, so it is recommended after a day of hard work. Paraffin repairs the skin, even in conditions like eczema, speeds up the healing and it is particularly recommended for very dry and flaky skin.

How to use paraffin wax on hands

The first step in paraffin hand treatment is to melt the paraffin wax. It requires a double boiler. The bottom container should be filled with water up to three quarters, and the top container is lightly greased with vegetable oil. Two medium blocks of paraffin wax are placed in the top container and melted. After the paraffin melts, it should be transferred in a plastic container big enough to fit both hands, and left to cool a bit. Paraffin is ready when the temperature is comfortable enough and when something like skin starts to form on top.

The hands are then placed in the container for a few seconds. After a thin layer of dry paraffin forms on the skin, the hands are again submerged. This should be repeated at least six or seven times so that multiple layers of dry paraffin form on the hands. The hands are then covered with soft mittens for about 10 minutes, after which time the wax is removed with a cloth and the skin is well moisturized with a lotion.