Clay is most commonly associated with the sublime experience of the European spa where visitors have been masked, soaked and basted with this touted curative since the Romans ruled.

However, today scientists think that smectite clay could one day rise above cosmetic use to take its place comfortably with antibacterial behemoths like penicillin.

“People are interested in natural cures and I think that there is a lot of nature that we don’t understand yet,” ASU geochemist Lynda Williams says. “What if we discover a mechanism for controlling microbes that had never been discovered before? It is these avenues, at the boundaries of scientific discovery, at the edges of my field and knowledge (and Shelley’s), where such discoveries are made.”

This means if the clays are antibacterial in nature, they may represent a new form of treatment, one that goes beyond the capacity of existing antibiotics. “And they could be produced and distributed cheaply,” Williams notes.

"You can use clays at home to treat facial and body acne," says Julie Gabriel, author of bestselling all-natural acne guide "Clear Skin: Organic Action Plan for Acne", available at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble, "Start with a warm bath to open pores and prep skin for the treatment. Then follow with a gentle scrub and slather a homemade clay mask on your problem areas where acne hits hardest, such as chest, shoulders and buttocks."

Here's a recipe for body mask made with clay. It's extremely beneficial for body acne, Gabriel notes.

"The most important part of the anti-acne body treatment is the clay mask. To prepare a body mask, mix ½ cup of white or blue clay with ½ cup of strongly brewed green tea and 2 tsp of honey. Stir thoroughly so there are no lumps. Apply the mask generously over the areas affected by acne and leave to dry. You may also use any of the recommended masks for teenage skin."