Cryotherapy in Skin Care: What to Know and Where to Start
Stay cool.
By Isabelle Buneo, Editorial Assistant ·
Whether it be the rise of Hydrafacials or the virality of in-office and at-home microcurrent technologies, it seems like the array of skin-care treatments is constantly expanding. As of late, one of the most popular techniques for creating your best skin has been that of cold therapy or cryotherapy. From face rollers to plasma devices, we asked experts to explain the benefits of cryotherapy on the skin and how to navigate the different kinds of cold tools on the market.
What is cryotherapy?
Fairly straightforward, cryotherapy or cold therapy is the practice of using ice or other cold tools on the skin for a variety of different reasons. “Cold therapy can offer several benefits to the skin including reducing inflammation, soothing irritation, reducing puffiness and dark circles and even enhancing skin tone,” says New York dermatologist Jody Levine, MD. Social media has taken quite a liking to the practice, with ice rollers, cryo orbs and more becoming a regular part of many influencers’ routines.
In addition to the cooling sensation that users enjoy for its vitalizing effects, in a way, cryotherapy “shocks” the skin and can increase blood flow after use, explains Jupiter, FL dermatologist Kenneth Beer, MD. “Essentially, cold therapy at home decreases swelling, decreases redness, and promotes healthy skin,” summarizes Fort Lauderdale, FL dermatologist Matthew Elias, MD.
Though cold therapy tools can bring a lot of positive benefits on the skin from inflammation reduction to relieving puffiness, discretion and moderation is key in practicing cryotherapy at home. “When considering cold therapy products, it’s important to choose reputable brands and to consult with a board-certified dermatologist to ensure safety,” says Dr. Levine. “As with any home treatment, there are potential downsides to be aware of when practicing cold therapy at home including sensitivity and/or allergic reactions and even frostbite burns from exposure to cold temperatures,” she adds.
Similarly, Dr. Beer encourages the use of cold therapy treatments so long as it’s not in excess. Dr. Levine adds that “patients should be aware that while cold therapy can provide temporary relief and certain benefits for the skin, it may not be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.”
Understanding your options
There are tons of ways to practice cryotherapy at home, but it can be hard to decide which tool is best for you. Here, we break down some of the most common cold therapy tools on the market to help you choose which product is best for your individual skin needs.
The positive impacts that cold therapy has on physical and mental health was the driving force behind AMEŌN’s Frozen Essence Glow Manifesto Ice Cubes. “Each Frozen Essence box contains 9 mono-dose molds that you simply pop in the freezer, remove a single cube when frozen, massage it into your face and let it dry,” explains AMEŌN founder Alina Mehrle. The carefully curated ingredients within AMEŌN’s ice cubes are pulsed deep into blood vessels that constrict and dilate as a result of the cold temperature, making it the perfect tool for firming the skin and reducing redness and imperfections while still hydrating and even making serums and moisturizers work better.
“As someone with severe eczema, cryotherapy is my go-to for calming inflammation and itching. I can’t live without our Ice Roller,” says aesthetician and founder of StackedSkincare, Kerry Benjamin. “I keep it in my freezer, and the minute the itching sensation comes on, I grab our tool to instantly calm the inflammation. Eczema is the itch that rashes, so if you do cryotherapy immediately, it calms the urge to scratch, helping to prevent the rash,” she explains. “I spent two years designing our Ice Roller to make it the perfect inflammation-busting, relaxing tool you can use at home for your face and neck.”
If you’re searching for something a little more professional and customizable, booking a treatment with the latest innovation from Artemis Distribution, Neveskin Face, might be just what you’re looking for. “The different and defined presets for Neveskin Face allow for the technician to curate treatment plans specified to the client’s various skin concerns allowing for a more customized facial session,” explains the product development team at Artemis. The Neveskin Face also has seven new protocols in addition to the original Cryoskin Facial: Cryoskin’s Original Cold Facial Preset, Collagen Boost, Ultra Lift, Regeneration, Calming, Age-Defying Upgrade and Ultimate Eye Upgrade. These new settings provide an array of personalized treatments—both cold and warm—designed to tackle everything from acne and blemishes to signs of aging and dullness.
Celebs and clients alike can’t get enough of Nurse Jamie’s innovative, effective skin-care tools, and the Super-Cryo Massaging Orb is no exception. Designed to temporarily increase circulation to localized areas in order to improve the tone, quality and tone of the skin, the Super-Cryo Orb is made with stainless steel to allow it to stay cold for up to six hours. The size of this orb allows for the tool to be used on larger areas like the arms and back, and can be used warm or cool. If you’re looking for a tool that can be used more easily on the neck and cheeks, Nurse Jamie’s beloved Super-Cryo Orb also comes in a Mini variation that boasts all the same benefits of its large counterpart.
A relatively new phenomena in the world of at-home cold therapy, Love & Pebbles Beauty Pops combine the depuffing, anti-inflammatory benefits of cryotherapy with the brightening, exfoliating and nourishing benefits of a face mask. Each pop is packed with skin-loving ingredients like aloe vera, turmeric, bananas, and papaya—all natural, anti-oxidant ingredients. Combined with the benefits of cryotherapy upon application, Beauty Pops’ ice masks simultaneously moisturizes, evens skin tone, reduces the appearance of fine lines and acne and contours and smooths the face.
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