5 min read

What Is Cryotherapy and Why Do You Need It in Your Skincare?

Woman lying next to a medical machine that emits vapor

When it comes to skincare, there are a lot of different options and procedures that you can choose from in order to get the best results. Cryotherapy is one of those treatments that has been gaining popularity in recent years, thanks to its many benefits for the skin. But what is cryotherapy, and why should you add it to your skincare routine? Keep reading to find out!

What is cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is a type of cold therapy that uses extremely low temperatures to treat various conditions and improve skin health. The name comes from the Greek word “cryo,” meaning “cold,” and “therapy,” meaning “treatment.”

It's a minimally invasive treatment that can be done in a spa or clinic setting, and it usually only takes a few minutes. The skin is exposed to sub-zero temperatures for a short period of time, typically between one and three minutes. There are two main types of cryotherapy: whole body cryotherapy (WBC) and local cryotherapy.

Whole-body cryotherapy

Whole-body cryotherapy is when the entire body is exposed to cold temperatures. This is done in a special chamber that surrounds the person's body with extremely cold air, typically between -200 to -300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Local cryotherapy

Local cryotherapy is when only a specific area of the body is exposed to very low temperatures. This can be done using a device that looks like a large wand, which is passed over the area of skin being treated. The temperatures used in local cryotherapy are not as extreme as those used in whole-body cryotherapy, typically ranging from -50 to -70 degrees Fahrenheit.

How does cryotherapy work?

During a cryotherapy treatment, the skin is exposed to extremely cold temperatures for a short period of time. This causes the blood vessels in the skin to constrict and the metabolism to slow down.

The body responds to this by increasing blood flow and releasing endorphins, which have pain-relieving and mood-boosting effects. Cryotherapy has a number of benefits for the skin, including reducing inflammation, improving skin tone and texture, and stimulating collagen production.

Why is cryotherapy good for your skin?

There are a number of reasons and health benefits why cryotherapy treatment is good for your skin. While the main reason is that cryotherapy can help to reduce inflammation, there are numerous other benefits of cryotherapy.

Reduced inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response of the body to injury or infection. It is characterized by redness, swelling, and pain. While inflammation is a necessary response that helps to heal the body, chronic inflammation can lead to a number of problems, including skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Pain relief

Another reason why cryotherapy is good for your skin is that it can provide relief from pain. This is due to the release of endorphins, which are hormones that have pain-relieving and mood-boosting effects. Also, if you have muscle pain or muscle soreness, cryotherapy can help to relieve these symptoms.

[caption id="attachment_12667" align="aligncenter" width="957"] Cryotherapy treats a number of problems, including skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.[/caption]

Weight loss

Whole-body cryotherapy is often promoted as a weight-loss treatment. While more research is needed in this area, one study found that whole-body cryotherapy may help to burn calories and reduce body fat. Namely, a few minutes of cold (even of extreme cold) can increase metabolism all day.

Better blood circulation

Cryotherapy can also help to improve circulation. During a cryotherapy treatment, the blood vessels constrict and then dilate. This helps to increase blood flow and improve circulation.

Removing abnormal tissue

Cryotherapy can also be used to remove abnormal tissue, such as warts, moles, and skin tags. The extremely cold temperatures of cryotherapy cause the abnormal tissue to freeze and die. The tissue will then fall off within a few days or weeks.

Dementia prevention

It has been hypothesized that cryotherapy could prevent dementia by reducing inflammation and improving circulation. While more research is needed in this area, one study found that people who had regular cryotherapy treatments had a lower risk of developing dementia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVbYxw7c65U  

Cancer prevention

There are some studies that have shown that cryotherapy can help to prevent, but also to treat cancer. This is because the cold temperatures can kill cancer cells and any other abnormal cells or stop them from growing. However, more research is needed in this area.

Improved skin tone and texture

Cryotherapy can also help to improve the tone and texture of your skin. This is because it stimulates collagen production, which is a protein that helps to keep the skin looking young and healthy. It can also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improve the elasticity of the skin.

Stimulating collagen production

As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen. This leads to a number of problems, including wrinkles, fine lines, and a loss of skin elasticity. Cryotherapy can help to stimulate collagen production, which can help to reduce the signs of aging and keep the skin looking young and healthy.

How to have cryotherapy at home?

If you want to have cryotherapy at home, there are a number of ways to do so. Whether you need whole body cryotherapy or you want to try cryotherapy facials, you can do both in the comfort of your own home.

Ice bath

One way to have cryotherapy at home is to use ice packs or ice baths. This involves filing a tub with cold water and ice and then sitting in it for a period of time. Alternatively, you can wrap ice packs in a towel and apply them to the areas of your body that are sore or inflamed.

Cold showers

Another way to have cryotherapy at home is to take cold showers. This involves turning the temperature of the shower to as cold as you can tolerate and then showering as normal.

[caption id="attachment_12668" align="aligncenter" width="944"] Do you want cryotherapy at home? Fil a tub with cold water and ice and sit in it for a period of time.[/caption]

Cold compress

A third way to have cryotherapy at home is to use a cold compress. This involves taking a cloth and soaking it in cold water. Once it is soaked, you then apply it to the area of your body that is in pain or needs treatment.

Using cryotherapy device

Finally, you can also use a cryotherapy device. These devices are designed to provide cryotherapy treatments at home. They work by cooling the air around the person using it and can be used for a variety of different purposes, including pain relief and skincare.

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[caption id="attachment_12447" align="aligncenter" width="977"] UFO 2 combines thermotherapy, cryotherapy, LED lights, and the famous T-sonic pulsations to deliver professional-level results in no time.[/caption]

FOREO’s coolest skincare hack, cryotherapy, visibly reduces puffiness, shrinks pores, lifts, and firms skin to remove signs of aging. Masking with UFO 2 improves skin moisture levels by 126 % after only 90 seconds and, as nothing gets wasted on the surface, the effect lasts up to 6 hours, while UFO 2 has also been clinically proven to significantly reduce the appearance of wrinkles in just seven days.

Cryotherapy treatment is the one to improve your skin and health

Cryotherapy has a number of skin and health benefits, including reducing inflammation, improving skin tone and texture, and stimulating collagen production. Exposing yourself to very very low temperatures can help with rheumatoid arthritis, nerve damage, chronic pain, and even kill cancerous cells.

Cryotherapy is a very effective treatment that can be done at home by taking an ice bath, using a cold compress, or investing in a cryotherapy device like FOREO's UFO 2. So, if you are looking for a way to improve your skin or health in general, cryotherapy is definitely worth considering!

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Comments

5 comments

MYSA user avatar
Annie Rice 07/07/2022
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Very interesting..it looks like pretty much all health issues, like autoimmune and neurological, etc., are actually related to internal inflammation of some sort. Read a few interesting articles on that subject. Definitely worth looking into it further...

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MYSA user avatar
Vivaan 07/07/2022
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I live in a very hot country, so my ufo 2 is really useful for cooling off! This is a great article, I learnt a lot from you!

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MYSA user avatar
Alice Durand 08/07/2022
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I did not know all these benefits of cryotherapy. Luckily I have UFO at home and I am going to use this feature more frequent. Thanks.

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MYSA user avatar
erika 10/07/2022

In reply to by Alice Durand

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Dear Alice, cryotherapy is great! Let us know your impressions on it :)

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MYSA user avatar
Doris 20/07/2022
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I have noticed that the cooling feature of my ufo 2, after heating, works great for my skin, it looks refreshed and I'm kind of obsessed with it, but I wasn't aware of all these benefits.. Amazing article

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