The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Skin
Posted by Twomule (TX) on 08/27/2023
★★★★★
I use boron as a skin exfoliant. It leaves the skin so soft and lovely.
Skin
Posted by mr black (Ontario) on 06/23/2023
★★★★★
Get yourself some good quality castile soap, some 20 Mule Team borax, and some good quality epsom salt (not the cheap stuff from the pharmacy) mix it together to form like a paste and lather up really good in the shower head to toe then scrub and rinse off. Biofilm and greasy buildup on the skin will be gone. this could also be helpful for those with morgellons and heavy metal toxicity.
Skin
Posted by Katzie (Calgary, Canada ) on 04/21/2023
Royal Jelly is a nutritious substance secreted by worker bees to feed all of their larvae, as well it is the ONLY food that is fed to larvae to make Queen Bees. It is an amazing substance and very healing.
Skin
Posted by Tommy (Los Angeles) on 08/11/2022
Can you specify exactly how you use the borax to wash scalp and body? Others have mentioned just taking a palm full and scrubbing? Is that what you did?
Skin
Posted by Christi S. (Atlanta, Ga ) on 07/04/2021
I know it's been 6 years since you made this post. I believe that you could have had a detox response. It's hard to determine whether it's a detox response or an allergic reaction. Please update if you continued to use borax. If so, what results did you receive. Best wishes.
Skin
Posted by Valdoria (Jacksonville, Fl) on 04/12/2017
★★★★★
I have been using borax in water 5 days on/2 days off - for about 3 weeks... I feel rather tired which I attribute to possible detox.
However, my skin looks better and I can tell my feet appear to be shedding a bit of old fungal skin which is nice. I take 1/8 tsp in water a day and usually make a match tea with it in the morning. I sometimes will take a hot bath with 1 cup of epsom salt and 1 tblsp of borax and it does make my skin feel good, yet a bit dry... it does seem to be helping with healing.
Skin
Posted by Bonnie E (Michigan) on 03/29/2016
Sounds like you might be allergic to the sun. The burning pain you describe.
Skin
Posted by Jenn (Florida) on 02/23/2016
Look into Neem for your skin condition.
Skin
Posted by Joelle (Ny) on 01/17/2016
★★★★★
It is already in your body through your pores. You have a huge surface full of pores -your skin- and bathing in it actually gets it into your system much faster than drinking it. It is the method I use to get whatever upsets my digestive system into my body. Hope this encourages you to start drinking. :-) I'm gonna try it on my face. Thx for the tip.
Skin
Posted by Mahli_xo (Blue Ridge, Ga) on 06/07/2015
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
For a long while now, my skin has been dryer than I think it's ever been in my entire life. I suspect I have some vitamin deficiencies (and/or thyroid issues) I need to address to get to the heart of the problem; but in the meantime, I decided yesterday that maybe I should start taking a little better care of my skin that I've been doing, so I decided to try washing my face with borax.
I had read about the many benefits of borax a couple of years back but didn't decide to try it until now. I was hoping it'd help exfoliate and perhaps even aid in fighting off any fine lines or wrinkles I'm beginning to develop (I'm 27); and though it's too early to tell with the wrinkles, I can say for certain that not only has exfoliated and made my facial skin extremely smooth and baby soft - but it has also unclogged so many of my pores! I still have some blackheads; but I suspect that those, too, will be gone, so long as I continue with the borax.
Before I get into what side effects I'm experiencing today, I'd like to also add that this morning I test exfoliated a patch of skin on my upper arm that's covered in dry skin and keratosis pilaris, and holy cow at the difference! There are still red spots (however, I'm interested in seeing if they'll disappear with continuous use), but I can't remember the last time anything ever made the skin on my arms this smooth!
Anyway, so that's all of the good things I've noticed in a two day period of time; but there is something has me a bit concerned - and that's that after using the borax on my face again this morning, I noticed that my usually clear, spotless cheeks were covered in red splotches and teeny, tiny little bumps!
(Side note: This isn't totally uncommon for me, as much of the time, when I wash my face with just about anything, it tends to bring out similar kinds of blemishes but in much lesser amounts - so I do NOT think that what I've experienced today is the result of an allergic reaction.)
At first, I was a bit horrified, lol. I wondered if I had over-exfoliated my skin. Perhaps two days in a row is a tad much, but not only that ... maybe I had scrubbed too hard (which feels very easy to do with borax)? Or maybe my skin is purging? But if purging is to blame, then why, in less than an hour, did most of the irritation subside? My cheeks look ALMOST clear again! So... where did those itty bitty bumps go, and what were they? I don't think they were blisters; they didn't look anything like blisters, and I think some of them even had little white heads on them. (Gross, I know.) How could my skin just reabsorb them in such little time?
I'll let it be known that I do suffer from an overgrowth of candida, and I'm curious if that may somehow have something to do with all of this. Like, is the borax sucking any bad "yeasties" out of my skin? Haha, I don't know! It didn't itch or anything, and I'm just making guesses based on things I've read; but I am really hoping that someone out there might be able to tell me what could be going on with my skin. Thanks! :-)
UPDATE (6/8/2015): I haven't used the borax on my face again quite yet, as I thought that'd be a bit too soon, considering I may have over-exfoliated yesterday. I've kept it moisturized with coconut and castor oil; and before I go out or if I start to feel too sticky, I simply rinse with water. I haven't needed to wash with borax or reapply any oils since yesterday morning, and my face looks so soft and dewy - I love it! The only thing is that my face looks sunburned! ? It doesn't hurt or itch; it feels and looks completely normal and even healthier than usual, other than the redness. Might anyone know what could be causing this? Is it the over-exfoliation alone, or is it some other side effect of using the borax?
Skin
Posted by Mallory (Brooklyn) on 05/02/2014
Can u explain what royal jelly is, & where to purchase it?
Skin
Posted by Ger (Canada) on 05/02/2014
Hi, Do you know what you have? I heard "Virgin" Coconut oil in your food and on your skin is amazing for excema. Coconut water too. It is an amazing skin healer. I've had tons if skin issues myself. Tea tree oil/olive oil put that on skin around 40 drops to 7 to 8 oz of olive oil each night and day. Rub in It absorbs. Also try skin brushing and something g that amazingly cured me of psoriasis was " royal jelly" they come in small pellets and are just a derivative of honey. They have sooo much vitamin B's and it heals skin. Good luck.
Skin
Posted by Bradshad (North Providence, Rhode Island) on 05/21/2013
Sandy, suicide does not seem like the answer nor does vodka to clear up your skin issues. Personally I have been at wits end many times with my psoriasis. My take is before you do anything irrational, try doing a veggie juice cleanse for awhile or even better a water fast under the care of a licensed Naturopath. My guess is you have Candida. Best of luck. Hope this helps.
Skin
Posted by Sandy55 (White Pine, Tennessee, Usa) on 05/19/2013
Ted, I get confused easily. I keep reading about the borax, peroxide remedy and have read different mixtures at different messages.
I have mixed a liter of spring water with 1/4 teaspoon of borax, and a capful of peroxide, I drank on this all day yesterday and then today added 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. I did this to drink on all day. I don't know if this is correct since I later saw this was after meals.
I have lots of black places that look like freckles that have came up and I know age brings some of this but I see black specks in the tub. Lots of burning skin so bad I have tried to commit sucide three times and was put in the mental hospital. I can't take this skin burning and also my eyes are full of thick stuff. If I use anything on my face like even water I get a lather like it has soap on it this has gone on for over three years.
I have lost almost all hope. I did use all the things I have on hand in the house like the lavender and mixed it with too much vodka at first, it did help with the pain. I saw the mixture for skin and used it all day but got to dried out and had to stop the second day. It has been hard to even wear clothes that touched my skin. I need to keep it simple so help with cleaning is something I need to know.
This is urgent for me since I don't feel there is anything left. I have xylitol and wondered about using it with the chocolate to make something tasty. Or can I mix a vodka drink to make it a little stronger for pain?
Please help!
Skin
Posted by Branda (Detroit, Mi) on 05/10/2013
★★★★★
I want to comment on the borax as a face wash. I have been using borax now for a couple of weeks. After reading some of the comments, I wanted to start slow. I have to say, it works for me. My skin loves this stuff! My face is softer, smoother and brighter. I'm not at the ingesting stage yet because I can't wrap my head around drinking something that I wash my clothes with. Next, I'll try it in the bath. Thanks Earth Clinic. I get a lot of great natural remedies from this site.
Skin
Posted by Marcy (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) on 10/03/2009
I just wanted to mention that soaking in Epsom Salts could be the cause of the diarrhea since Epsom Salts are high in magnesium and too much magnesium can cause diarrhea. It still boils down to doing your own research and finding out what works for you.
Skin
Posted by Fabat50 (Sb, Ca) on 08/22/2009
★★★★★
YEA!!!! Love BORAX my husband and I have been using it as scrub for months, no soap, still use shampoo though, But skin has never felt better. Cant wait to take shower it feels so GOOD! Just get wet, Turn off water, Get a palm or two full and scrub, FEELS GREAT! RINSE, then MAYBE a little VCO, sometimes, WOW! BABY SOFT!
Skin
Posted by Carmen (Nova Scotia, Canada) on 06/28/2009
★★★★★
After five months of use I feel I qualify to respond. Before the use of borax my skin was always dry, tight, red and itchy. The powerful scents and perfumes of regular shower products could be smothering. I now have no desire to use anything but borax in the shower and on my face. Also I have always had an itchy scalp but no longer. Washing the hair with borax is alot like washing it with beach sand (not very nice :))but the results were undeniable for me, no more itch. Unlike other EC posters I am not pleased with the results of using borax alone so after a good scrub and rinse with borax I do shampoo with a regular shampoo. Overall I give borax a big YEA, I am sure my husband will give it a thumbs up also. Although he has the most beautiful skin his only skin issue is back acne which has easily improved by 90% since using borax in addition to regular products (he likes the smelly stuff). Thank you to everyone.
Skin
Posted by Roberta (Southeast, Wyoming) on 02/17/2009
As regards borax on the skin: borax is one of several chemicals very commonly used to bind oil and water in cosmetics such as lotions and creams. It is a common and very prevalent chemical. Why someone would develop diarrhea after bathing in bath salts could be anyone's guess, but it is not necessarily the borax. On the other hand, I am noticing that diarrhea can ensue after eating things that disagree with candida - such as milk and garlic! So perhaps the borax is 'upsetting' candida in your intestinal tract and causing a reaction.
In any case, I agree that to point to borax as an irritant because some people have reactions to laundry detergent is jumping to conclusions. Begin with things like fragrance. Also, most people are not having reactions to laundry detergent and bath salts, if you look at it rationally.
Skin
Posted by S Doboze (Berlin, Germany) on 06/18/2008
Bathing in it is perfectly safe, when it is simply Boron Salt. Suggesting otherwise is alarmist, and does not serve people's needs. My red flags went up when I read the above comment and contents, apart from the propagadist fear content, from 'AX'.
Skin
Posted by Jo Ana (Tucson, AX) on 06/06/2008
Many people develop serious rashes from laundry detergent, Millie, so assuming that bathing in laundry detergent is safe, may not be a safe assumption. The borax used in your bath salts is not the safe borax that the supermarket sells. The borax used in bath salts is an emulsifier and fizzer, and contains absolutely no detergent. I haven't personally used any borax for health, since I haven't had a need for it, so I can't comment from personal experience. Just for fun, do some more research online or go to the Mountain Herb website and read the breakdown of their borax product which is probably comparable to any cosmetic grade of borax. I think that grade of product is probably safer for bathing in than laundry detergent.
Skin
Posted by Millie (Small Town, America) on 04/11/2008
★★★★★
For those who are nervous about using borax, it may interest them to learn that borax is used in most Bath Salts -- that's why I already had a package of the laundry borax, was because years ago I tried making Bath Salts, and the borax is one of the main ingredients.
I also learned that when I soaked in baths containing either borax or epsom salts, that I was prone to bouts of diarhhea -- so I stopped putting together Bath Salt Recipes -- I hadn't realized how readily I seem to absorb anything placed in hot bath water.
I'm pointing this out, because this past week I read someone somewhere online caution to never put any borax on one's skin because allegedly it's so absorbable -- but that doesn't make sense, because not only do most laundry detergents contain it, & thus our clothes have residues of it, it also is found in diaper rash formulas, and anybody who likes to add mineral salts to the bath tub has probably soaked in borax on many occasions.
