application of alkaline clay on skin will increase the skin pH resulting in the development of acne. The local people often mix these clay materials with other plant and animal extracts in order to make the clay suitable for application to the skin. The particle sizes vary between silt, loam and silt loam. Large particle sizes when used cosmetically, may cause abrasion and damage to the skin. The smaller particles have a large potential to be used as a cleanser. The clays and soils particle size influences the refractive index (light) which allows for them to be used a s skin protectors. There are 17 minerals identified in Isinuku clay namely quartz (), mica, calcite (), interstratified illite , aragonite (), gypsum CaSO4.2(H2O), rozenite Fe2+SO4.4(H2O), K-feldspar (), plagioclase ), kaolinite (), chlorite, halite (NaCl), pyrite (), pyrophyllite (), spinel () and smectite (). The three dominant mineral phases are quartz, mica and calcite followed by interstratified illite and smectite. The alkaline nature of the clay can be attributed to calcite. Quartz, mica and illite are very stable substances however, due to their particle size, can cause abrasions when applied topically. Illite is applied topically and orally. The use of sulfur in various skin preparations in the field of dermatology due to sulfur's antifungal, antibacterial and keratolytic properties. The sulfur content in the springs ranges from 0.8% to 1.3%. Furthermore the continued saturation of the sulfur containing clay with the saline water which drips from the roof of the cave results in an improvement medicinal properties of the clay. The clay also has components which include bromide and arsenic, the latter was used to treat syphilis, yaws and other bacterial infections before the development of penicillin. Other trace elements found include cobalt, chromium, copper, zinc, uranium and radioactive strontium. Although the clay may be useful for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, the clay may also constitute a health risk resulting from repeated and unsupervised exposure. There are however, no toxicological studies yet done to identify appropriate beneficial methods to make the clay safer to use. Traditional beliefs The sulfur is used to cure stomach and skin ailments. The thick mud and bubbling water is believed to contain chemicals which are capable of curing all ailments. The people of Isinuka and surrounding villages believe that the clay is a gift which has been passed down from their ancestors therefore the cessation of the