Ingredients For Body Wrap Solutions

Body wraps are popular hydrotherapy treatments that utilize your body heat for a number of purposes including detoxification, stimulating circulation, treating dry skin and warming skin prior to massage or simply for relaxation, says Marybetts Sinclair in "Modern Hydrotherapy for the Massage Therapist." Body wraps can include everything from mud to seaweed to herbs to essential oils. Some use paraffin. Many spas utilize their own formulations. The ingredients in them can vary widely.

Mud/Clay

Mud or clay is a common ingredient in body wraps, and bentonite is one of the favorites at spas that offer them. Bentonite's thermal properties make it popular for use in body wraps and other types of pelotherapy, says Stefano Cara in "Applied Clay Science." Pelotherapy is the application of mud for therapeutic purposes. Bentonite is easy to mix with water into a spreadable paste, Cara says.

Sea Salt

Simple home body wraps can be made with 1 cup of clay and 1/4 cup of sea salt, notes Rhonda Donahue in "The Pollution Inside You." Sea salt often is used in cosmetic formulations as a scrub, says Paula Begoun, author of "The Original Beauty Bible." However, it can increase your sensitivity to UVB radiation when it is left on your skin, Begoun says.

Paraffin

Some places use whole-body paraffin wraps. Paraffin often is used in whole-body wraps to warm and soothe, and is also useful in treating joint pain, says Sinclair. Paraffin is a petroleum-based substance that has a waxy feel to it, Begoun notes.

Seaweed

Seaweed, which has a gelatin-like consistency, is popular in body wraps meant to moisturize, say Lia Schorr and Shari Miller Sims in "Salonovations' Advanced Skin Care Handbook." Seaweed is reputed to restore skin elasticity, strengthen skin and improve your skin's pH and water balance. Some people also claim it can purify and disinfect skin. Seaweed does have anti-inflammatory properties as well as antioxidant action, says Begoun, who notes that other claims about this ingredient's benefits are unproven.

Essential Oils

You'll often see essential oils such as lavender or sesame added to body wrap formulations, Donahue notes. Some are more beneficial than others. Lavender is primarily a fragrance, though it does have some antibacterial properties, says Begoun. However, there's no research proving it has benefits for your skin---and it may even make your skin more sensitive to the sun or irritate your skin. Sesame oil, on the other hand, is a natural moisturizing factor, or NMF. NMFs improve your skin's feel and texture. More importantly, NMFs help to stabilize and maintain the intercellular structure of your epidermis, or top layer of skin. In turn, this helps keep bacteria out of your skin, prevents surface irritation from going deeper into your skin and boosts your skin's healing system.