05 July 2019, by i-sopod
Floatation is widely known to be an effective therapy to help us relax and ease stress and anxiety, or to help our body heal from physical or emotional trauma. Wonderful, right? Who doesn’t love the idea of floating weightlessly, quietly, letting go of our tensions and feeling refreshed and revived? What could be better? Well, it seems that this amazing therapy can also be hugely beneficial to our skin. This is like the best, most unexpected, buy one get one free offer for our well-being!
The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and skincare is very big business. We spend billions on creams and lotions, scrubs and exfoliating sponges, and spend a lot of time buffing and smoothing and polishing, and generally keeping our skin looking its best. Several cosmetics brands saw skincare products overtake makeup sales in 2018, signalling how important having healthy skin is to us. It instils confidence and makes us feel better. What then are the benefits of floating in magnesium-rich water in relation to our skin health?
The magnesium in the water of the float pod is a major factor in the health benefits of floatation therapy. Floating is an excellent way to increase magnesium levels in our body, being absorbed through our skin as we float. Absorption of magnesium via the skin is more effective than taking supplements orally, as the digestive process can inhibit the assimilation of magnesium into the body. Damage to the gut can also lead to less efficient incorporation, meaning that trans dermal absorption is the most effective means of getting magnesium into our system.
Many of us suffer badly from inflammatory skin conditions such as acne or psoriasis, making us feel insecure and awkward. These conditions cause a great deal of discomfort and pain, as well as making us feel embarrassed or uneasy about redness and lesions on our skin, often negatively impacting our lives and self-confidence. The magnesium in the water of the float pod helps the overall appearance of our skin by lowering cortisol levels, stabilising our hormonal balance and improving cellular processes. It is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial and can help detoxify our body and clear up skin irritations.
Floatation therapy can be doubly helpful in the treatment of such problems. Chronic stress can impede the ability of our skin to regulate toxins and may be a major factor in the flare-up of inflammatory skin complaints. If we are worried or stressed about things, our acne or psoriasis can become worse, increasing our stress levels further. Floating has been proved to be of great benefit in the relief of anxiety, so the very act of floating itself, and lessening our overall stress load, may further assist in the alleviation of irritating skin disorders. The links between stress and conditions such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis are well documented, but it is difficult to say whether too much stress causes outbreaks of these conditions or if the disorders themselves cause extra stress. Floatation helps both because, as well as easing our tensions mentally, magnesium is known to be an important chemical in immune function and can assist in reducing the severity of irritating, uncomfortable and painful flare-ups. Float tanks also helps us to sleep better and getting enough sleep is crucial for our skin health because, whilst we are sleeping, our body releases less cortisol, a stress hormone which adds to our stress levels and can lead to inflammation. Magnesium deficiency also increases the production of histamines, which can lead to further instances of blotchy or red skin.
Magnesium sulphate also naturally exfoliates the skin, removing dead cells and cleaning pores. This results in fewer blackheads and less oily skin, which can be helpful for those of us who suffer from acne on our shoulders and backs. It also aids in the regulation of hundreds of biochemical reactions in our body and reduces damage from free radicals, which can prematurely age our well-buffed, highly polished skin. Floating is an excellent way to detoxify our body, helping to draw out impurities and toxins, cleansing our pores and helping conditions like acne. If we are lacking in magnesium, which the majority of us are, it results in the loss of fatty acids from our skin, which are essential for maintaining elasticity and moisture, both of which are key to a smoother, more soothed and comfortable skin. Without these fatty acids, skin can become dry, patchy and inflamed. Deficiency in magnesium also increases the production of histamines, which can lead to further instances of blotchy or red skin.
Cellulite is another skin problem, mainly affecting women, which causes much insecurity about how we look. Many of us spend a lot of money on anti-cellulite creams and spend hours in the gym trying to get rid of it. Cellulite gives a dimpled, bumpy look to the skin on our hips, thighs and buttocks, caused by the shortening or shrinkage of fibrous tissue cords which anchor the skin. Because the weightlessness experienced in the float pod improves our circulation by allowing blood vessels to dilate more fully, improving blood flow to the lymphatic system and leading to more effective drainage of toxins and waste, it helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite. The magnesium in the water softens the epidermis which also assists in lessening the bumpy appearance.
It seems then that floating therapy does more for us than relieve our tensions and worries whilst helping us to really connect with ourselves in this busy world, but also improves our skin disorders and exfoliates and nourishes our skin, giving us a healthy glow. Oh, and on top of all that, it’s also good for our hair!
