Cryotherapy is short for “cold treatment.” It is a procedure that involves exposing your body or a part of your body (such as your face) to subzero temperatures for a few minutes.
In 1978, Japan was the first to develop this technique. Dr. Toshima Yamaguchi, a Japanese rheumatologist, is credited with inventing this technique. This method was originally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Cryotherapy’s effects quickly expanded beyond arthritis. It was found to be effective in treating inflammation, psoriasis, and tissue pain, as well as rejuvenating the skin.
Cryotherapy may be applied to a single region of the body or the whole body. When done on the forehead, it’s known as a “cryotherapy facial,” and when done on the whole body, it’s known as “whole-body cryotherapy.” The method of administration is determined by the region of the body being handled.
Your whole body is encased in a tiny chamber during whole-body cryotherapy. You must stand within a chamber that only encloses your body, with a hole for your head. Once within the room, the body’s temperature is reduced to between -200° and -300° Fahrenheit. The aesthetician uses vaporised liquid nitrogen to create a cold stream of air. For just a few minutes, the body is exposed to that temperature.
Your body believes it is frozen when exposed to cold temperatures. This activates the body’s innate healing mechanism. To keep your body warm, it collects blood in the core. This causes your capillaries to dilate, and your white blood cells to function harder to protect you. Your brain also produces hormones like adrenaline and endorphins to activate your organs during those minutes. This reaction stimulates cell rejuvenation, strengthens the immune system, and aids in self-healing.
Different doctors may use slightly different cryotherapy procedures, but the overall technique is the same.
Your skin is thoroughly cleansed and massaged prior to the operation. This aids lymphatic drainage and the removal of toxins as well as stress from your facial muscles.
Steam can come into contact with your face. • Your face will be exposed to various light frequencies in certain areas to help healing, destroy bacteria, and improve collagen output. If you have any breakouts, they can be removed with a fast session of microdermabrasion. This aids in the improvement of your skin’s health.
The cryotherapy session is now underway
A freezing blast of liquid nitrogen is sprayed all over your face using a tube connected to the cryotherapy system, and your eyes are sealed with protective goggles. • The tube’s nozzle contains lasers that constantly monitor the temperature of your skin, and the tube is moved all over your face. This will ensure that no part of your face becomes too cold.
A cryotherapy facial treatment lasts about two to three minutes. Your protection goggles will be removed once the procedure is completed. A cryotherapy session is often accompanied by other spa facial treatments. To improve the health of your skin, you can obtain red LED light therapy (to increase skin radiance), a facial massage, and a hydrating mask. Your skin will feel stronger and smoother right after the treatment.
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Cryotherapy has many advantages, whether you opt for a facial or a full-body treatment. Let’s take a look at them in the following segment.
It aids in the alleviation of atopic dermatitis symptoms
The effectiveness of cryotherapy in reducing AD symptoms was investigated in a 2008 study involving 18 adults with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis. The majority of the participants saw a change in their health. Three of them, on the other hand, complained of moderate acral (limb, ear, and nose) frostbite. Overall, the subjects found the procedure enjoyable and were determined to stick with the treatment plan (1).
A research on mice showed that freezing the sebaceous glands decreased the number of sebocytes (sebum-producing cells), preventing excessive sebum production (2).
It helps to improve blood circulation.
The extreme cold air causes your blood vessels to contract and then expand while you have a cryotherapy facial. This improves blood flow to your skin, making it look healthier and more radiant.
It Tightens Pores on Your Skin
The freezing temperature of cryotherapy tightens the pores of your skin. This stops dirt and bacteria from accumulating in your pores.
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Cryotherapy's Other Advantages
It Helps to Relieve Pain
Athletes primarily use cryotherapy to treat muscle spasms and injuries. When the body is exposed to cold, the irritated nerve is numbed, which aids in the relief of acute injuries and swelling. The cold also aids in the treatment of fractures, strains, and sprains by reducing inflammation.
It Helps to Relieve Migraine Symptoms
Cold therapy was found to be effective in reducing migraine symptoms in a study. The study included 101 patients with a migraine headache that targeted their carotid arteries in the neck (of which only 55 were included in the data analysis). The recordings were taken at different times, including at the onset of pain, 15 minutes later, 30 minutes later, and 1 hour later. And 77 percent of those who took part said that cold therapy helped them to feel better.
Despite the fact that the study suggests that cryotherapy can help with migraines, the FDA has no evidence to back up this argument.
Cryotherapy facials have a lot of advantages, but they also have a lot of drawbacks. The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has not yet approved cryotherapy as a treatment choice for a variety of skin and health conditions. Cryotherapy’s complications and side effects are discussed further down.
According to Anna Ghambaryan, a clinical reviewer at the FDA, the most serious danger faced by whole-body cryotherapy is asphyxiation. According to her, too much nitrogen in a confined space can cause oxygen deficiency, which can lead to hypoxia and loss of consciousness (5). • Frostbite is another possible hazard.
Ice burns • Numbness and tingling sensation • Numbness and tingling sensation • Redness
Also, stop cryotherapy if you have any of the following conditions: • Respiratory problems
Heart and circulatory problems
You have high blood pressure; you have a history of seizures; you have metal implants in your body; you have bleeding disorders; you have anaemia; or you are pregnant.
Cryotherapy’s effectiveness as a treatment choice for skin and health problems would require more testing. Until making an appointment for cryotherapy facial or whole-body cryotherapy (keep in mind that the FDA does not recommend it), talk to your doctor about it.
