# Potential Possibilities of Using Peat, Humic Substances, and Sulfurous Waters in Cosmetology
## 3 Peat
### Potential Uses of Peat and Humic Compounds
#### 3.5.2 Types of Peat Treatments  
Traditional treatments using mud in health resorts and spa and wellness centers are baths (total or partial), wraps (total or partial), compresses, iontophoresis, and phonophoresis [90].  
In dermatological diseases, the temperature of the peat should not exceed 37 \({}^{\circ}\)C; in musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases, applications up to 45 \({}^{\circ}\)C are recommended. The thermal effect of peat is to dilate blood vessels, increase blood and lymph flow, and reduce muscle tension. In the case of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, this results in increased joint mobility and an analgesic effect [91; 92]. In cosmetology, peat is used as a raw material in both body and facial treatments. In facial treatments, peat is applied in the form of creams, masks, and patches or by performing iontophoresis for oily and combination but also for aging skin and skin prone to allergies. For body treatments, mud is used in the form of masks, compresses, poutlices, or baths, especially in the prevention of cellulite and stretch marks and for a slimming effect [93].  
The physiological effect of the treatments is a complex action, based on the action of thermal, mechanical, and chemical factors, among other [91; 93]. The effects of therapymay therefore vary depending on variables such as the presence of a thermal stimulus, the composition and concentration of active substances and salts, osmotic pressure, electrical conductivity and occlusion, or skin condition. The thermotherapy and occlusion techniques used in the treatments enhance transdermal transport, which allows for the delivery of the necessary active substances and elements to the skin, stimulation of cellular metabolism, and tissue detoxification [90,94,95]. Mechanical action consists in the peat mass of pressing the treated area, which stimulates the flow of blood and lymph [93]. The effectiveness of the treatment using mud depends also on the type of raw material and the treatment procedure (Figure 2).  
Peat baths are the most popular form of peloidotherapy using this peloid for medical purposes The so-called peat pulp is used for bathing, heated to the appropriate temperature, usually 39-40 \({}^{\circ}\)C. There are two treatment procedures for bathing. For the first (total or half baths), special bathtubs are used and the peat is heated to 39 \({}^{\circ}\)C. In this case, it is required to immerse the entire body up to the neck for 10-20 min. Due to the cost of the treatment, total baths are replaced with suspension baths, in which a large dilution of peat is used. The second one (partial baths) includes the immersion of selected body parts, mainly limbs. The poor thermal conductivity of peat and high heat capacity ensure the deep and long-lasting heating of the body during the treatment. Baths cause the skin's blood vessels to dilate and enlarged pores to narrow and they increase sweating, which leads to the detoxification process. The oxygenation and nonurishment of the skin improves [3,96,97].  
Peat pulp or peat patches are also used for peat compresses and wrapping. After applying a thick layer of peat to the treatment area, it should be tightly wrapped in foil. The duration of the treatment is about 20-30 min. [PERSON] et al. [93] described the effect of using peat compresses on the reduction in cellulite. A series of 10 treatments were performed on the skin of the thighs in 49 women with grade III cellulite (Nurnberger-Muller scale). To perform a series of treatments, peat from Polczyn (Poland) heated to a temperature of 40 \({}^{\circ}\)C was used. Beneficial effects in the form of increased hydration of the treatment area were observed already after the first treatment, while after five procedures, the firmness and tension of the skin improved. The result of the entire series of 10 treatments was the reduction in cellulite from grade III to II.