The 6 Best Paraffin Baths

Chronic ailments such as arthritis or joint inflammation can markedly damage the quality of life of anyone so afflicted. Joint pain makes it difficult to complete even basic tasks such as typing, trying a shoe, or opening a jar without discomfort, and in more extreme cases, these issues can make the performance of many tasks impossible.

While a doctor or other medical professional can prescribe pain management medications and various rehabilitation activities to treat or minimize the underlying causes of arthritis, bursitis, or other types of inflammation, it is also important that anyone so afflicted take the time to mitigate the symptoms they are experiencing, thus improving their quality of life. One of the best ways to reduce join pain in the hands and feet is by long sessions of paraffin bath treatment.

Paraffin wax is a hydrocarbon compound derived from either petroleum or coal. It is non-toxic, soft to the touch when solid, and without odor. Most paraffin wax is white, though color can easily be added if desired, as can essential and/or aroma oils.

A paraffin bath consists of a basin in which paraffin wax is melted and then maintained in its warm liquid form at an ideal temperature. The heat settings of a paraffin bath can vary greatly from unit to unit, but most high quality paraffin baths allow you to set the specific temperature you'd like. The temperature range tends to be anywhere above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the approximate point of paraffin wax, and 150 degrees F, above which temperatures begin to be a danger for burns. Regular protracted paraffin bath sessions can greatly reduce the pain of joint afflictions, and can enhance the range of motion and ease of use of the fingers, wrists, toes, and ankles, if only temporarily.

Paraffin bath treatments can also serve to mitigate decidedly less serious issues, such as chronic dry skin. While dry skin is more of an unpleasant inconvenience than it is an obstacle to completing the everyday tasks of life, anyone with regularly dry, cracked, and callused heels, toes, or palms will tell you that the condition is far from enjoyable.

The thermal relief provided by a paraffin bath can dramatically reduce the pain and limited joint function associated with arthritis, acute or chronic bursitis, or with inflammation caused by everything from injury to illness to age. The relief offered is temporary, but regular use of paraffin bath treatments can improve a patient's quality of life, especially when the sessions are but one part of a therapeutic regimen.

Paraffin wax dipping can offer increased flexibility and mobility, but do make sure to consult with a medical professional before using a paraffin bath as part of your treatment plan; it is important you avoid over using a finger, ankle, or any other joint that feels better right after a paraffin bath session but which is in fact still very much compromised by your injury, age, or condition.

As a treatment for dry skin, submersion in a paraffin bath is often preceded by coating the hands or feet with a hydrating lotion or oil. The warmth and moisture of the wax helps to soothe and soften skin on its own, but working in tandem with a hydrating product, it can more actively assuage dry skin issues, helping your skin to absorb the moisture from the lotion or oil you have chosen. Many users also choose to use a glove or thermal mitt when using heated paraffin wax as a treatment for dry skin; the hand and/or foot is dipped into the warmed wax and then inserted into the glove or mitten, which helps maintain warmth even when the appendage has been removed from the paraffin bath. A user then wears the glove/mitt for as long as he or she would like.

Paraffin wax can easily be peeled off of the skin and reused after each session; just make sure you hands and/or feet are clean before submerging them, as the cleaner you keep your wax, the less often it will have to be replaced.

As part of your routine for relaxing at the end of a long day or for making the most of free time on the weekends, it's hard to beat the soothing warmth of a paraffin bath. Especially when your hands are sore from long use at the computer or in the garden or your feet are aching from prolonged standing or movement, the penetrating warmth that comes with a paraffin bath is hard to beat. With your own home paraffin bath can enjoy the same relaxation you would get from a wax soak at a spa or salon, and for less than the cost of most treatments.

You can either set your paraffin bath to a lower temperature and leave your hands or feet submerged, or you can repeatedly dip a hand or foot into the melted wax until a layer has built up around your skin and then wrap yourself in plastic liner followed by a glove or mitt.

Adding aromatic oils or hydrating lotions to your routine can both enhance the calming potential of a paraffin bath session and can help soften and moisturize your skin, too.

Just make sure you plan ahead, as many paraffin baths require as long as two hours to fully melt their wax, and waiting that long is anything but relaxing if you haven't already factored it in.