A body wrap is a treatment to maintain healthy skin and appearance. People use body wraps for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include helping your body get rid of unhealthy toxins, excess fluids, and dead skin. Different types of body wrap target different goals and unique types of skin.
Types of body wraps
There are a few types of body wrap. These include:
- Infrared body wrap. Your body naturally emits infrared light we experience as heat. Infrared technology uses a low light wavelength that is invisible to the naked eye, which we also experience as heat. When used on the human body, some feel it helps with detoxification. Using infrared body wraps is also thought by some to increase your chi (your natural energy).
- Seaweed or algae body wraps. These body wraps may help with the detoxification and nourishment of the skin. The seaweed leaves or algae paste are mostly applied while warm. Both plants provide amino acids and vitamins that nourish the skin.
- Compression body wraps. These types of body wraps involve using bandages that might be soaked herbs, minerals, and essential oils. A compression body wrap might cause slimming temporarily. The wraps may be applied to the body for up to an hour-long. Anyone using compression body wraps should consider drinking a lot of water to hydrate and get rid of toxins in the body.
- Mud or clay body wraps. Mud body wraps may help to detoxify your skin as the clay dries up. They also help by making the skin firmer. In addition to clay, this type of body wrap also involves the addition of essential oils. Studies show that mud body wraps increase circulation, relieve pain, and relaxes muscles. These types of body wraps mostly come after a body polish, or an exfoliation shower.
- Heat body wraps. Heat body wraps are thought by some to reduce pain and discomfort in various parts of your body. If you suffer from acute low back pain, you might consider a heat wrap. The heat wrap uses an exothermic chemical reaction to produce a low level of heat. One process called “low-level heat wraps” takes up to eight continuous hours to be effective.
- Herbal body wraps. This type of body wrap involves soaking a cloth in a herb and then applying it to the skin. It might help with detoxification and healing the skin.
- Cream body wraps. Also known as oil body wraps, this involves the use of creams like coconut oil, almond oil, aloe vera, and shea butter. You then place a warm blanket after application of the cream on the skin.
What to know before trying body wraps
There are a few terms you should know and facts to consider before using body wraps. These include:
- Inch loss. Body wraps can seem to help you lose weight. However, they don't help you lose weight permanently. The weight difference or inch loss is due to water loss. For permanent weight loss use other techniques like dieting.
- Ingredients. Different body wraps use different ingredients. Find out what your wrap is made of to ensure safety. Some common body wrap ingredients include seaweed, algae, clay, aloe vera, and mud.
- Pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or think they might be pregnant should not use heat wraps. Heat wraps may raise your body temperature to unsafe levels. Check with your doctor before trying any other types of body wraps.
- Diabetes, high blood pressure, and other heart conditions. People with these underlying conditions should consider avoiding heated body wraps.
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Benefits of a body wrap
Different methods of body wraps may have different benefits depending on the type of wrapping used. The following are some of the beneficial effects body wraps might have on your skin:
- Reduction of inflammation and joint pain relief
- Skin hydration
- Skin smoothening
- Body toning and slimming
- Detoxification
- Relaxing and soothing muscles