Table of Contents
What is it and what is it for
Cryotherapy is a therapeutic technique that exploits the low temperatures to treat health and aesthetic disorders. Also known as cold therapy, cryotherapy primarily uses ice and liquid nitrogen, a gas capable of reaching 196 ° C below zero. Although cryotherapy today is performed by doctors and other professionals in specialized centers, the cure with cold has ancient roots and we have all used it forever. In case of bruises and trauma, for example, ice is used to reduce hematomas, edema, pain and inflammation, as is used to take very cold baths or sponging with ice water in case of high fever, to lower it in a short time and avoid even serious health problems. Over time and with technological development, cryotherapy has evolved and today is mainly used for solve blemishes and disorders affecting the skin, the muscular system and the circulation.
In the dermatological field, cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is useful for effectively eliminating warts, keratoses, and skin growths such as warts, but also for treating skin spots, freckles, acne, rosacea, alopecia and hair loss, hemorrhoids and small tumors. of the skin. Cold therapy with ice, even chemical, localized or systemic is then used in the case of bruises and muscle tears, as well as in circulatory and aesthetic problems.
Since exposure to cold causes vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation, cryotherapy can be used for improve blood circulation, reduce pain and relax muscles following trauma. The effect on circulation is also beneficial in case of water retention and cellulite, edema of the limbs, loss of muscle tone and skin relaxation.
How does it work
Cryotherapy can be done in several ways. Cold therapy can in fact provide foruse of simple ice, used for localized areas using an ice pack, chemical ice or special fluoromethane spray cans. It is a kind of do-it-yourself cold therapy, useful for example in case of bruises, trauma, muscle tears. In this case the cooling is gradual and serves a relax muscles and reduce inflammation, therefore pain and swelling of the affected area, also thanks to the vasoconstriction and the mild analgesic activity of the ice. Cold is also used for lower very high fever, placing an ice pack on the forehead or taking cold water baths. These treatments have no particular side effects and can also be carried out at home, just being careful not to overdo the times and frequency of applications, since ice can cause burns on the skin or reduce body temperature too suddenly.
The actual cryotherapy is instead carried out with liquid nitrogen, an odorless, colorless and harmless gas that can reach 196 ° C below zero. Localized cryotherapy treatments are used for eliminate warts, warts and other skin growths o pathologies and skin blemishes. Rapid freezing of the treated area causes a cold burn leading to cellular thermal shock. Therefore, crystals are formed in the cells to be eliminated, which are irreversibly damaged, dying. As a result, any growth such as a wart or condyloma will come off without producing any bleeding, blemishes or scars. Since liquid nitrogen cryotherapy results in cell death, it typically is carried out with precision tools that do not damage the surrounding tissues. A session lasts a few minutes and the treatment is carried out by the doctor – generally a dermatologist – as well as those of general and systemic cryotherapy.
There general cryotherapy and systemic techniques are in fact delicate techniques in which the whole body is exposed to low temperatures. It is carried out in special refrigerated cells or cryotherapy saunas and in particular conditions, for example in the context of some surgical operations or to relieve inflammation. There cryosauna it is used in physiotherapy and aesthetics, for its anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant and pain relieving effects and for improve the appearance and tone of the skin, fight water retention and reduce fat deposits. In general, systemic cryotherapy is not continued beyond two or three minutes.
Contraindications and side effects
Cryotherapy is a safe and well tolerated therapy but it has to be avoided in children and in people who are very sensitive to cold. Furthermore, in the case of pathologies, it is good before undergoing cryotherapy treatments consult your doctor. Cryotherapy treatments may cause small blisters or blisters on the skin, redness and swelling, but these symptoms generally disappear quickly. After the treatment it is fine do not expose yourself to the sun to prevent skin spots from forming.
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