It is logical to consider the topic of using ice in cosmetology within the framework of cryotherapy in general. In this article we will not touch upon the topic of using hypothermia in medicine: ophthalmological operations, preventing complications of alopecia during chemotherapy, surgery – removal of warts, papillomas, condylomas, scars and age spots.
Improving skin characteristics with cold
Hardware Cryotherapy is a natural healing technique through short-term cooling of the surface layers of the skin, a flow of nitrogen-air mixture, temperature from -130°C to -180°C.
Typically, the time spent in a Cryosauna or Cryocapsule at the beginning of a course of procedures is no more than 2 minutes, and then can gradually increase to 5 minutes if the patient tolerates it comfortably. This procedure has a lot of beneficial effects on the body, and as for the skin, we can highlight the improvement in the condition and color of the skin, increasing its tone, reducing swelling, helping in the fight against cellulite, and normalizing the functioning of the sebaceous glands.
If in Cryosauna procedures the human body and skin, in particular, are exposed to low temperatures, then the use of cosmetic ice refers to the use of moderately low temperatures: from 0 to -30 ℃. In reality, when rubbing the skin with an ice cube for 1-2 minutes, it is impossible to reduce the surface temperature below -10 ℃.
What does this mean?
This means that physiologically such a procedure for facial skin is absolutely normal. Therefore, it cannot cause any harm to the skin, but only benefit.
Ice cube cryotherapy has many positive effects. Cold primarily affects nerve fibers, slowing nerve conduction and constricting superficial blood vessels. Then, during the process of reperfusion, the vessels quickly expand, blood flow is restored, active substances and oxygen actively enter the skin tissue. If, after low-temperature exposure, a cosmetic or medicinal product is applied to the skin, its penetration deep into the skin and distribution within it will improve.
There is a lot of talk about the dangers of rubbing with ice cubes for sensitive and dry skin. We can assume that the issue here is as follows. It is necessary to distinguish between short-term exposure to low temperatures, as in the case of a cryosauna or when rubbing with an ice cube, and the so-called procedures of applying ice to the face or to any other area of the skin.
What happens during prolonged cold exposure?
In scientific research more than 100 literature sources were studied and a serious analysis and synthesis of literature data on the degree of knowledge of the complex was carried out , emerging pathomorphological and pathophysiological changes in the skin after exposure to low temperatures and the subsequent development of adaptive reactions in the post-hypothermal period. The negative consequences of prolonged exposure to low temperatures are a switch of metabolism from glucose to lipid, depletion of glycogen stores in the liver, cardiac and skeletal muscles, decreased immunity, the occurrence of antioxidant deficiency and a shift in the balance towards excessive generation of free radicals.
Applying an ice “compress” is practiced for various injuries and hematomas in order to reduce pain or stop bleeding as quickly as possible. According to scientific research, prolonged exposure to ice in this case can further slow down the recovery process. That is why there is a strict time limit when applying ice to certain injured areas of the body or skin: 10 minutes with a 20-minute break, and so on no more than 3-4 times. Further exposure will no longer have a positive effect on the injured area, but may disrupt the recovery process.
It should be noted that, according to researchers in this area, it is necessary to radically change methodological approaches to further studying the effect of cold on the human body and animals. The effect of cold should be considered not just as a damaging physical factor with a specific point of application, but as an external stress effect that has a general effect on the entire body as a whole. Having studied the mechanisms of formation of the body’s adaptive reactions to low temperatures of varying intensity and duration, it will be possible to establish many pathogenetic connections between climatic, social, and psycho-emotional effects of the environment on the human body.
What happens during short-term exposure to cold?
With short-term exposure of the skin surface to cold water or ice for 30 seconds to 1-2 minutes, the body temperature jumps sharply and immediately returns to normal.
In this case, natural gymnastics of the blood vessels and capillaries of the skin and the body as a whole occurs. With rapid cold exposure (no more than 2 minutes), the vessels of the skin sharply contract and squeeze blood out of the skin into the body, filling the internal capillaries, which by the age of 30 tend to die off. This happens especially intensely to those who devote little time to physical activity.
How to use cosmetic ice in regular skin care?
And taking courses of hardware cryotherapy and wiping your face with an ice cube is quite reasonable from many points of view. And not only the face, but the whole body. For example, when exposed to cold in the shin area, we will improve the tone of the veins and feel lightness in the legs. In the hip area, cryotherapy will perfectly complement procedures aimed at reducing volume, eliminating signs of cellulite and improving skin quality.
When using cosmetic ice for skin care, follow a few simple rules:
- The duration of the procedure for one area of skin is no more than 1-2 minutes.
- After the procedure, pat your face dry with a napkin and after a couple of minutes apply a moisturizing, nourishing or rejuvenating cream or serum.
- Wipe your skin with cosmetic ice no more than once a day.
- If you feel that the procedure causes severe discomfort both during and after it, then this is not your skin care method.
Try again after a while – maybe you just experienced psycho-emotional discomfort.
Current aspect – energy
Rubbing with a piece of melting ice has a direct connection with an interesting method of healing the body – Cryodynamics. This is what psychologist Sergei Nikitin called his method of rejuvenation, restoration of health and, in particular, liberation from alcohol addiction.
Nikitin’s healing method involves applying a piece of ice measuring 2x2x2 cm to a bioactive point: the foramen magnum. In his book “A new way not to grow old. Rejuvenation with ice” Sergei Nikitin outlines the technique that he has been using in practice since 1986.
The method gained followers who from 1985-1990. together with corresponding member. AN RB A.I. Veinik conducted experiments on recording the radiation that is emitted by all crystalline substances during melting or melting, including recording the radiation of melting ice. Results were obtained confirming that radiation from melting ice can be used to equalize the energy of a person’s field. Since the restoration of energy occurs by radiation from melting ice, and not by cold, the ice was not necessarily brought into direct contact with the human body, as in Nikitin’s book.
