Treatment Cure Acne, Spot, Oily Skin, Blemish Face Mask

SOME EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS

For external applications clays can be used in compresses, poultices, baths, face masks, body wraps, powder applications to weeping ulcers, nappy rash, weeping eczema, fungal infections. They can also be used as tooth powders - calcium bentonite clays are excellent at removing plaque and whitening teeth, due to their bleaching properties (be careful not to over-use it for this purpose, since it can be abrasive and can wear down the enamel). In the cosmetics industry bentonite are used in soaps, toothpastes, face/body packs, and other clay-based products which are beginning to win the consumer over.

Face Mask

Basic face mask recipe: 2 tsps of clay + water to form a spreadable paste. Apply and leave to dry. Wash off, apply moisturiser. Clay masks can have other ingredients added, depending on the skin type and purpose of the mask. Calcium Bentonite masks have a natural bleaching effect, and are used when aiming to reduce blotches, pigmentation, etc. They are also excellent at restoring the natural pH of the skin and cleansing it. Acne/spots is another skin condition which benefits from clay applications. Since bentonite clays are great detoxifiers, they leave the skin cleansed, pink, fresh and revitalised, generally looking younger

Compress

To make a compress, mix some clay with warm water to make it quite runny. Spread over a piece of cloth. Apply on an affected area. Cover with a compress paper, wrap up in a warm cloth. Leave on until the clay dries out. Apply on aching joints, muscles, in the area of organs affected by an illness.

Poultice

A poultice has a much more powerful effect than a compress, since it requires a lot more clay per application - 0,5-2cm thick, and it works as a mass, drawing up toxic waste into itself. The electromagnetic charge is stronger too. So the overall effect is more powerful. It is especially good for applications on a diseased organ area, or simply where a stronger action is required. Apply warm poultice over an affected area, cover with greaseproof paper and with a warm cloth. If an area is hot and inflamed, a cold poultice application is recommended to relieve the heat and reduce the inflammation.

Bath

A bath has a weaker effect than a poultice and a compress, unless quite a lot of clay is used. In cases of large amounts of clay being used, there may be problems with drainage afterwards unless one is careful. I normally keep stirring the water while it is being drained, and so far have avoided any blockages. For a bath, take 500g of clay, mix it in warm bath water and stay in it for up to 30 minutes, or until the water starts cooling down. I personally prefer the Rapan clays for baths, because due to their saline nature the effects are so much more pronounced, that I can feel them while still in the bath.  

Body Wrap

Body wrap is another very useful application for bentonite clays. It is a luxurious and thoroughly therapeutic treatment, especially with powdered seaweed added to it. Mix the clay with seaweed powder (50/50), add water to form a spreadable mass. To do it at home, prepare a place to lie on first, and a warm room. Lay down 1 or 2 warm blankets, with a plastic sheet on top. Cover yourself with the mixture of clay and water, or clay, seaweed and water, lie down on the plastic sheet, cover yourself with the remaining half of the blanket. Make sure you remain warm throughout. Stay under the blanket for 15-30 minutes. Wash off in a shower or a bath. For a salon application, follow the normal procedure for a body wrap.

Body Powder

Use dry clay powder on weeping eczema, ulcers, Athlete's foot, any sores and wounds which need desinfection and healing.

Tooth Powder/ Mouth infections

Calcium Bentonite is an excellent bleaching and cleansing product for teeth. It is also great for the gums, preventing the formation of plaque and mouth ulcers. However, as mentioned earlier, do not over-indulge in brushing teeth with it - once every 3 days or even once a week is enough. If an inflammation of the gums or a mouth ulcer occurs, take some clay into your mouth and keep it there for a while (10-15 minutes). Do not swallow - rinse the mouth with warm water. Repeat the procedure frequently, until the inflammation goes away.

What causes acne?

Oil glands are located deep in the skin. They are also known as sebaceous glands.

Each oil gland is connected to a tiny canal that contains a hair. The canal with its contained hair is called a follicle.

The glands produce oil (also known as sebum) that flows to the surface of the skin through these canals to lubricate the hair follicles and the surrounding skin

The opening of the canal with the attached hair (follicle) onto the skin is the skin pore.

Oily skin occurs when an overactive oil gland enlarges and overproduces oil. Acne develops when some of the pores (through which oil normally flows from the oil gland to reach the skin surface) become blocked, resulting in trapping of oil within the skin pores. The pores are blocked by skin cells that have been shed from the lining of the skin pore and have bunched together. A blackhead or whitehead will develop from this skin pore blockage.

What causes the sebaceous glands to overproduce, resulting in acne?

According to Randall Neustaedter, OMD, the androgenic hormones, particularly testosterone, that increase at puberty, and the surge of premenstrual hormones, trigger increased production of sebum. The pores become clogged with both sebum and dead skin cells creating a prime breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria and the breakdown products of sebum cause irritation and inflammation in the pores. The result is acne – blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and cysts in the skin.

Karen Jessett, author of Clear Skin, says that food is also a factor.  She states there is recent research pointing the finger at diet — eating refined carbohydrates and sugar leads to a surge in insulin and an insulin-like growth factor called IGF-1. This in turn leads to an excess of male hormones, which encourage the skin to excrete large amounts of sebum. This grease-like substance encourages the growth of bacteria responsible for acne.

Then there's the issue of hygiene.  Generally speaking, acne is not caused by poor hygiene.  Exceptions to this statement would be people such as auto mechanics who are often in contact this skin damaging toxins.  But for most people, the problem is not poor hygiene.  In fact, vigorous scrubbing of the face does more harm than good.  It can actually stimulate the sebaceous glands to overproduce, thus exacerbating the problem!

So now that we understand what causes it, how do we get rid of it?

We highly recommend a Hydrated Clay mask daily for two weeks, then scale back to twice a week.  The best clay for this is a pure Calcium Bentonite Clay.  Its amazing drawing power will help to open and clean out the pores.  It removes excess sebum and is an excellent exfoliant.  Calcium Bentonite Clay has natural antibacterial properties as well, and will dramatically speed the healing of the pimples.  Many times, when people begin using clay masks to combat acne, they notice that their acne appears to worsen before it improves.  Don't panic if this happens to you!  This is a good thing!  It means that the clay is doing its job, and is pulling the toxins from your skin.  Also, your face may show some redness when you remove the clay.  This is very normal.  The Calcium Bentonite Clay increases the blood circulation to the skin, which aids in the healing process. 

For more information visit. http://www.aboutclay.com  or just ask me for any further information required