Have You Considered Trying Skin Icing?
Undoubtedly, using cold water immersion (CWI), cold plunging, home cold plunge, cold shower, or cold baths for skincare has been a cornerstone of beauty wisdom for some time now, but now there's far more science to back it up, along with new tools for achieving the benefits.
And although the methods have changed, the benefits have become even clearer. Of course, as with any cold therapy, there are some risks to be mindful of.
Let's examine more about skin icing, the skin benefits of cold therapy, and the risks involved, along with other cold therapy methods that offer similar results with fewer risks.
Using Ice Cubes for Skin Icing
The simplest form of skin icing is when you wrap ice cubes and apply ice on your face. Often, this is done using covered ice cubes or an ice pack, and many find it helps to reduce puffiness on their face, typically under the eyes. Some even use iced coffee cubes!
Many claim skin icing provides a variety of skincare benefits, including soothing redness, better exfoliation, and aiding in blemish control.
New Technology, Same Cold Therapy for Skin Concept
Technology has reinvented the cold therapy skin treatment concept, with the ice facial gaining popularity as a spa treatment. Ice facials are a cryotherapy treatment where vaporized nitrogen is used to "ice" the skin of the face, scalp, and neck area. Typically, the skin is exposed to these extremely cold temperatures for several minutes per treatment, and the treatments are performed by trained professionals.
Another newer technology is cold therapy tubs for home use like those from RENU Therapy. Utilizing the use of cold plunge tubs or cold plunge pools, provides cold therapy benefits for the skin on your entire body rather than your face alone, along with a host of other health benefits beyond skin health.
Cold Therapy Skin Benefits
Improves Blood Circulation
Using cold plunge tubs is beneficial because cold temperatures cause the constriction of blood vessels, it can help promote blood circulation, decreasing puffiness and giving skin a healthier appearance.
Eases Swelling and Inflammation
When you have an injury, and your doctor tells you to ice it, this is the same concept that is considered an excellent cold water recovery but for the skin's aesthetic benefits. Those who suffer from inflammatory skin conditions like acne and rosacea can benefit from cold therapy because of the inflammation-reducing effects of cold on the skin.
Soothes Sunburns
Aside from being incredibly painful, sunburns can adversely affect skin health. Cold water therapy or cold water immersion is one of the fastest and most effective treatments for sunburns. Some even use aloe vera in ice cubes at home to help remedy their sunburns.
Helps Exfoliate Skin
Cold therapy like taking ice baths can help remove unwanted layers of dead skin cells and stimulate new cell growth in a more even, smooth distribution.
Reduces Skin Oils that Causes Blemishes, Pimples, and Acne
During a cold therapy session, skin pores are minimized, stopping excessive oil production. Because of the reduction of oil production, skin icing helps reduce acne, pimples, and blackheads and prevents blemishes.
When pimples are already present, cold therapy is a cold plunge option that can help reduce swelling and redness, soothing the irritated skin. To stop pimples from getting worse, the skin icing technique is helpful. The cold slows down the inflammation of pimples and reduces their size.
Reduces Signs of Aging
People who establish cold therapy routines enjoy a firming effect and stimulating feeling of eliminating toxins, helping ease the signs of wrinkles and aging.
Refreshes Eyes and Eliminates Puffiness
The gentle pulling and tightening effect of cold therapy on the skin helps restore areas around the eyes to their bright and vibrant appearance, along with eliminating puffiness around them.
Enhances the Effectiveness of Skincare Products
For those who use skincare products, cold therapy can help improve their absorption and effectiveness. This is because taking cold plunges causes the capillaries in the skin to restrict, drawing the skincare product deeper into the skin's surface.
How Can You Achieve the Ice Bath Benefits for Skin?
Preparing Skin for Cold Therapy
To get prepared for cold therapy, it's recommended to gently cleanse exposed skin and apply a moisturizer to help protect it. It's also smart to avoid sun exposure directly before ice treatments to avoid irritation throughout the treatment.
How Skin Icing Treatments in Spas Work
Facial icing uses vaporized liquid nitrogen pumped from a hose to briefly expose your skin to extreme cold. The hose is passed quickly over the skin, held at enough distance to prevent freeze-burning of the skin.
While this may sound unpleasant, professional ice facials don't actually feel that cold, more like a cool jet of air at first, but they do feel somewhat colder as the treatment progresses. That said, treatments only last around 10 minutes, and they only benefit the skin on your face.
What About Using Cold Tub Therapy?
Cold tub therapy isn't the same as the facial skin icing techniques described above, as there is no liquid nitrogen involved and no hoses. Therefore, those with sensitive skin may find cold tub therapy a smarter option for them.
With cold tub therapy, the skin on your entire body can receive many of the same benefits as facial icing, but without the need to visit a professional treatment center to expose your skin to liquid nitrogen, saving money while delivering greater benefits.
Ice Bath Tubs
You may be thinking about just filling up a tub with ice and adding some water, but this can get expensive with time, along with being a time-consuming process. Using a purpose-built ice bath tub like the RENU Cold Stoic provides you with always-ready, cold water to get the benefits of cold therapy whenever you need them, right at home.
Skin Icing Routine Concerns and Tips
Ice Facial Safety Considerations
Ice facials can cause harm when not done properly. Having it done by a well-trained professional will help avoid risks like frostbite, skin burns, and nerve damage. While skin icing is safe for most skin types, be cautious if your skin is sensitive or reacts severely to changes in temperature. Cold therapy in cold tubs is a far safer way to treat your skin.
General Dos and Don’ts of Cold Therapy
- Always clean your face before professional icing treatments.
- Never use ice cubes or ice packs directly on the skin, especially where it's thinner.
- Once finished with cold therapy for your skin, allow the moisture to dry naturally.
- If you wear makeup daily, do your cold therapy before applying it.
- If you want to target areas with pimples or inflammation, do cold therapy before bed.
Cold Therapy After Care
As your skin recovers, avoid chemical or physical exfoliation, along with skincare products that could cause irritation. It's best to use gentle cleansers and warm water. Also, be sure to use sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF if you'll be outside after the treatment.
Is Cold Tub Therapy Your Preferred Method?
Are you ready to get the skin benefits of cold therapy but without expensive and dangerous icing treatments? Check out RENU's cold tub customizer to design the perfect cold tub for your home.
Choose from a standard or large tank size, custom exterior color, and quality wood finish of the breath deck. The craftsmen at RENU will then carefully build your ideal cold tank for getting healthier skin at home.
