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Paraffin Wax Bath

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Icon not found What is a paraffin wax bath used for?
Icon not found Are paraffin wax baths good for you?
Icon not found How does the treatment work?
Icon not found What problems can paraffin wax help treat?
Icon not found Considerations
Icon not found FAQs

While the warm, relaxing feeling of a paraffin wax bath is much loved by our patients, this delightful treatment also carries a range of health benefits for your feet, joints and body - all while you sit back and relax with your phone or a book. 

What Is A Paraffin Wax Bath Used For?

A paraffin wax bath is a fantastic and easy way to soothe and soften your skin while providing pain relief for those with arthritis, joint pain, joint stiffness and various other conditions like bursitis. Being a form of heat therapy, it also supports and promotes circulation in your feet, which can greatly help those suffering from chilblains, where repeated exposure to cold temperatures can lead to redness and itching on the feet. As a paraffin wax bath is also an efficient way to add moisture back to the skin, our patients find it very helpful for patches of callus, or rough or scaly skin, as well as skin conditions like psoriasis.

Are Paraffin Baths Good For You?

Absolutely - anyone can reap the moisturising and circulation-boosting benefits of paraffin wax baths, even if you don’t have any underlying joint aches or issues. Many people incorporate paraffin wax baths as a regular part of their foot care to help maintain the integrity, suppleness and texture of their skin, while letting the warmth and relaxation double as a bonus stress and tension reliever.

How Does The Paraffin Wax Bath Treatment Work?

To start, your paraffin wax is poured into a special foot bath for you to immerse your feet into. Paraffin wax itself has a fantastic ability to absorb and retain heat, and it has a lower melting point which means it can maintain its liquid state without getting too hot, uncomfortable, or causing you any problems. We also keep the temperature of our paraffin baths carefully controlled as an added layer of protection.

As your foot is placed in the bath, some of the wax solidifies in a layer around the foot, transferring a lovely level of heat through the both feet that leaves you feeling lovely, warm and relaxed. Your feet stay in the bath for up to 30 minutes, allowing the heat to continue to seep through the muscle and tissue layers of the foot, so you gain the full benefits of the wax bath. Once you’ve finished your treatment, the wax coating is removed from your feet, and you’re perfectly primed to have your skin and nail care treatment with us to leave you feeling fantastic on your feet as you walk out.

What Problems Can Paraffin Wax Bath Therapy Treat?

Paraffin wax baths may help improve the symptoms of conditions including:

• Arthritis - by providing relief to stiff or tender arthritic joints
  
• General joint pain
  
• Joint stiffness
  
• Dry or scaly skin
  
• Callus or cracked heels
  
• Eczema and psoriasis
  
• Chilblains
  
• Raynaud’s disease/phenomenon
  
• Scleroderma
  
• Fibromyalgia
  
• Poor circulation
  

Paraffin Wax Bath Considerations

While most people have no issues with having a paraffin wax bath, this treatment may be unsuitable if you have any open wounds on your feet (from cuts to diabetic foot ulcers), are allergic to paraffin, suffer from impaired sensation in your feet (such as peripheral neuropathy in diabetes) which makes you less able to detect the temperatures and issues during the treatment, have cancer, vascular disease or significant swelling in your feet, have notable scar tissue in your feet, have poor thermal regulation, or have had radiation exposure to your feet that has left you with any tissue damage. Your podiatrist will always go through the treatment with you to confirm your suitability before starting.

Note: while we keep our paraffin wax baths at a very regulated and safe temperature at our clinic, if you’re completing a paraffin wax bath at home, you must be very cautious of the risk of burns or blisters if the wax is overheated.

FAQs

Are there any disadvantages to paraffin wax bath treatments?

In our clinic under our controlled processes that are completed by our experienced podiatrists, paraffin wax baths have very few risks or disadvantages and are considered a safe and effective treatment. However, if you’re trying a paraffin wax bath at home, you must take great care to minimise your risk of burns and other issues.

Is paraffin an anti-inflammatory?

While paraffin as a substance itself is not an anti-inflammatory, paraffin wax baths have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. The heat from the wax can help to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation, which can provide relief for conditions such as arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.