What is a pumice stone and what is it used for?
PUMICE STONE – A pumice stone is formed when lava and water combine together and this is how to use this stone for exfoliation.
A pumice is a “light-colored, extremely porous igneous rock” which is formed during explosive volcanic eruptions. It has pore spaces called vesicles. And in dermatology, this stone is the best to use for exfoliation.
It is light and abrasive which makes it great to remove dry and dead skin and smoothen calluses and corns. Since it is abrasive, this might be dangerous to use in parts of the body where the skin is thin and sensitive. The key is knowing how and where to properly use this.
Being too aggressive and without knowing the proper usage may lead to removing too much skin, bleeding, and risk of infection.
Ana Cristina Laureano, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Scherl Dermatology in New Jersey, said that one must use this stone “in areas with thicker skin like the knees, elbows, and feet”.
“The feet are the safest area to stick to if you have very sensitive skin on your body. I would avoid using it on thinner skin, like the face, as this skin is more susceptible to micro-abrasions and tears. Too much irritation on a thin-skin area can lead to inflammation, which can result in scarring and/or pigmentation changes,” the expert says based on a post from Prevention.
People with diabetes, low blood circulation, and taking blood thinners must avoid using this. They are at a higher risk for bleeding and infections.
Here’s a guide to using this in the proper manner:
- Soak the skin and stone in warm water for five to 10 minutes, separately. This way, the skin will loosen up and the stone will be less rough to use.
- After the first method, you can now start exfoliating in a gentle way. Perform this for two to three minutes and if you see dead skin falling off, make sure to rinse off the area.
- After exfoliating, observe your skin. Does it feel dry or hard? Continue for another minute or two. If it feels smooth, you may stop.
- Lastly, wash off the treated area with clean water and apply foot cream or lotion.
Make sure that after using the stone, wash it off thoroughly. It has vesicles and there’s a big possibility that it can accumulate dead skin cells in the pores.
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