The “Healing Crisis”
New skin cells are constantly being created in the skin’s deepest level of the dermis, the germinativum. Over their four week lifespan these cells migrate up through the epidermis and ultimately to the outermost layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum.
When we’re young new skin cells arrive at the surface and simply push the older cells off in a perfectly natural exfoliation process. But as our bodies age, dead cells pile up unevenly on the surface of the skin, leaving it rough and dull looking.
Dry or Oily Skin
As odd as it seems, excessive dead skin cells can lead to either dryness or oiliness. Some of this outcome is genetic, and some is environmental as your skin reacts to airborne factors or to the beauty products you’ve been using.
Dry skin (xerosis) is frequently the result of washing with too much soapy water. The stratum corneum dries and shrinks tiny cracks, exposing the underlying living cells to spores and irritating substances in the air.
But other times that excessive cell buildup clogs hair follicles and pores, which causes oil (sebum) to buildup, and blackheads to form. The medical term is seborrheic dermatitis. Unfortunately, the body’s highest density of sebaceous glands is contained on the face, specifically the forehead, nose, and chin.
Just as dry skin cracks and lets microorganisms attack the living cells underneath the stratum corneum, oily skin tends to shift slightly alkaline and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. This bacteria-friendly 7-plus alkaline skin pH leads to infections, blemishes and pimples.
And this is why pH is important.
Newly formed skin cells are pH neutral (7.0). As they age and rise to the surface, skin cells become filled with keratin,. By the time they reach the stratum corneum their pH has become a slightly acidic 5.65 which is the body’s way of keeping the millions of bacteria and fungi in the air from infecting our bodies.
Normal, healthy skin also has a thin coating of natural oils (lipids) which hold water in the stratum corneum, making the skin appear soft and smooth.
Aging skin doesn’t naturally exfoliate excess dead cells easily. Keratin filled dead skin cells keep accumulating on the surface to make skin appear dry and rough. Wrinkles are exaggerated. The goal of exfoliation, then, is to remove excess keratinized skin cells and excess sebum without stripping all of the healthful lipids from your skin.
The Secret of the Wonderbar.
Most “soaps” have a pH of 9 to 11. Wonderbar has a pH level closer to 5.65, which is what one would see in “normal” or healthy skin.
As the Wonderbar lather is rubbed into your skin, it acts as a very mild abrasive to exfoliate dead skin cells, and reveal the underlying newer skin cells. As it unclogs pores and restores your skin’s pH balance to its correct 5.65, you’ll find it leaves your skin smooth, clean and healthy looking.
When the Wonderbar exfoliates, the healthy cells accept the natural Wonderbar moisturizers. These come from unique algae, Chlorey’nahre. They leave the skin softer, smoother, and with a healthy glow.
The Healing Phase
There are more than 1,000 different species of bacteria, and hundreds of various Candida spores which live on the surface of human skin. Each opportunistic pathogen, however, will thrive in only one particular set of skin conditions. So as skin changes from oily or dry, from alkaline to acidic, multiple temporary flare-ups are possible.
This is called the Healing Phase.
Some Wonderbar users never experience any discomfort. In others the correction may last a few days or a few weeks (which, interestingly, indicates that the Wonderbar is doing it’s magic). You’ll be left with radiant skin and a youthful, healthy complexion.
The Wonderbar is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Helpful Tips:
- If you experience the Healing Phase, you may notice your skin is dryer than normal. Applying a small amount of plain moisturizer will help. Too much moisturizer, however, will slow down the healing. Use only what you really need, based on the dryness you’re experiencing at that stage of healing.
- Also, other skin products may be chemically incompatible, and cause Healing Phase conditions to last longer than necessary. If symptoms persist, discontinue the use of your other beauty products until your skin adjusts.
