Cold therapy has gained lots of popularity in recent years, which includes using extreme cold temperatures to achieve a variety of benefits. From weight loss to treating migraines, there are many touted benefits of cryotherapy – but did you know it can also improve your skin? 

Several recent research studies have found that cold therapy could be a biohacking secret to improve skin health, helping to reduce oxidative stress and enhance circulation. Below, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the benefits of cold therapy for your skin and how to incorporate this biohacking tool into your beauty routine.

What is Cold Therapy?

Cold therapy, also known as cryotherapy, involves exposing the skin directly to cold temperatures for short periods. In a recent 2022 study, researchers concluded that cold therapy offers numerous benefits for skin health, including improved circulation, reduced inflammation, and diminished oxidative stress. 

In turn, cold therapy has the potential to improve the appearance of skin naturally and deliver an improved skin texture and complexion. With various medical injections such as Botox and fillers on the rise, cold therapy has the potential to serve as a natural alternative to improve the skin’s appearance.

The world of cold therapy is still new – which means we anticipate lots more research coming out over the course of the next decade. In addition to scientists exploring the helpful benefits of cold therapy for skin health, lots of research suggests cold therapy could be an effective pain relief tool and may even help in regulating blood pressure.

Cryofacials

Cyrofacials are one way to expose your skin to cold therapy by using liquid nitrogen to cool the skin on the face. By exposing your skin to cold, your blood vessels will contract and the pores on the face will tighten. This effect has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve circulation, helping to improve the skin’s appearance. Although this may seem unpleasant, cryo facials only last about 10 to 15 minutes in length – exposing your skin to just enough cold to produce long-lasting results. 

Ice Baths

Ice baths, or cold-water immersion, can offer benefits for the skin on your whole body instead of just your face. While sitting in ultra-cold water can be challenging, many people note that the body does adjust the more you do ice baths. Ice baths can help firm and tighten your skin throughout your entire body and reduce the amount of sebum (an oil) that your skin produces. An overproduction of sebum is associated with oily skin and acne, in some cases.

Cold Showers

Cold showers don’t sound appealing, but they may be worthwhile to add to your beauty routine to achieve healthy, glowing skin. Research suggests that taking showers in cold water can help to improve circulation, tighten skin, and reduce inflammation. When taking a shower, aim to keep your temperature of water below 60 degrees, immersing yourself in two to three-minute intervals. It can take time to adjust to taking showers in this cold water, so start slowly and work your way up to longer intervals.

Ice Rolling

Ice rolling is another popular biohacking technique you can add to your beauty routine. This method uses a small, handheld device that contains a frozen portion that you roll onto your skin. Ice rolling may help target areas of redness or puffiness, soothing inflammation on the skin and promoting healthy circulation.

Enhancing Your Beauty Routine with Biohacks

Cold therapy is just one of the many ways you can hack your way to healthier, glowing skin. Other techniques and methods, such as light therapy or microneedling, may work alongside cold therapy to help you achieve the best results.

 Explore more ways to improve your skin from the inside and outside. Remember, changes in skin health can time to occur so it’s important to be patient. One method may work for one person but not for the next, especially given the many different skin types around. It may take some experimentation to find the best beauty routine for you.

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  2. De Pessemier, B., Grine, L., Debaere, M., Maes, A., Paetzold, B., & Callewaert, C. (2021). Gut-Skin Axis: Current Knowledge of the Interrelationship between Microbial Dysbiosis and Skin Conditions. Microorganisms, 9(2), 353. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020353
  3. Oyetakin-White, P., Suggs, A., Koo, B. B., Matsui, M., Yarosh, D., Cooper, K. D., & Baron, E. D. (2015). Does poor sleep quality affect skin aging? Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 40(1), 17–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.12455
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