The Freezing Phenomenon: Cryotherapy in the Medical and Beauty Industries
2018 is all about cryogenics: cryotherapy, cryosauna, cryomassage, cryofacial. Whether it’s for health, comfort or cosmetics, Liquid Nitrogen cryo treatments are becoming increasingly popular across the beauty and medical industries.
Dermatology Uses
Liquid Nitrogen is used for cryotherapy and cryosurgery in hospitals and dermatologist’s offices to treat a variety of skin lesions from precancerous cells like actinic keratosis and moles, to benign growths like plantar warts and skin tags. And although there’s no cure for the virus HPV, sufferers may also consult with an OBGYN or primary care doctor about trying a cryotherapy medical procedure to reduce symptoms. Cryotherapy has proven to be an effective precaution against potential skin cancers and requires no knives or needles. However, freezing even a small patch of skin (especially on the face), can be painful – but only momentarily.
Have you ever tried to treat a wart at home with a butane spray can and wondered why it didn’t work? Well, that’s because an over-the-counter gas isn’t cold enough to freeze and destroy abnormal skin cells – not even at a chilly -100 degrees Fahrenheit. At -320 degrees Fahrenheit, Liquid Nitrogen is just the right temperature to obstruct stubborn skin lesions.
If you’re unfamiliar with a typical cryotherapy procedure, a medical professional will take either a cryogun or a soaked cotton swab and apply Liquid Nitrogen directly onto the skin for 10-30 seconds. The treated area will leave a blister, followed by a scab that should fall off within 2-4 weeks, exposing newly generated skin cells. Sometimes several treatments of cryotherapy are required for desired results. If it sounds unpleasant, that’s because it can be. Contact with a liquid gas at that cold of a temperature is similar to mild frostbite. Even so, as an affordable outpatient treatment, discomfort is minimal and it can yield positive results.
Healing sunspots on a nose after being treated with cryotherapy.
A cryogun used to freeze off abnormal skin cells like warts, moles, skin tags and keratosis.
Medical Uses
The use of Liquid Nitrogen is not confined to the skin but can be used internally as well. Cryosurgery applies a thin wand attached to a source of Liquid Nitrogen or is injected with a needle to treat abnormal cells and tumors inside the body that cannot be safely extracted by surgery. Treatable areas include the liver, kidney, lungs, breast, cervix, prostate and bones. Located with an ultrasound, MRI or CT scan, the tumor is frozen in hopes of shrinking and killing the tissue. Cryosurgery is also a popular approach to killing retinoblastoma cells in the eye, which consists of a cryoprobe used to freeze and thaw tumors several times.
Cosmetology Uses
Cryomassages and cryofacials are the new anti-aging trends that have been receiving promotion among celebrities. Various methods include brushing vaporized Liquid Nitrogen directly over the skin and rolling a large Liquid Nitrogen soaked cotton swab across the face. These two tools are lightly massaged over the face and neck to stimulate collagen production and combed through the hair to increase hair follicle growth, all while supposedly applying nutrients. Each method has a different technique but targets the same results. The benefits of cryofacials and massages include:
– Decreasing fine lines and age spots
– Soothing uncomfortable skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis
– Reducing pore size and inflammation
– Normalizing glands
– Improving blood flow and circulation
Sitting at temperatures between -180 and -196 degrees Fahrenheit, cryomassages do not sting nearly as much as freezing off a wart at -320 degrees Fahrenheit and are not as intense as cryosaunas, which immerse the entire body in a bath of Liquid Nitrogen vapor. Essentially, the Liquid Nitrogen fills in wrinkles and scars, tightens skin and normalizes glands to reduce the effects of acne.
Some people may complain that their joints become stiff when the temperature drops, but used strategically, far below freezing temperatures can increase mobility. Cryomassages are not limited to the face – they are known to alleviate the discomfort of arthritis by decreasing the swelling and inflammation of joints.
A cryofacial applied with a Liquid Nitrogen dipped swab.
A cryomassage treatment with a cryogun used to stimulate hair follicle growth.
Serving Cryogenic Liquid Gas to the Rocky Mountain Region
At Rocky Mountain Air, our passion is serving the medical and beauty industries so that doctors and cosmetologists can better serve their patients and clients. With our promise of delivering flawless dependability, your businesses will never have to worry about your supply of Liquid Nitrogen.
Serving cryogenic liquid gas customers throughout our five states and surrounding areas is one of our specialties. Our services are not limited to transportation, but also include bulk tank customization, bulk tank installation, rehab and repair, system inspection, compliance consultation and system maintenance.
Depending on the demand of your business, whether you are a large hospital or an independent beauty salon, our cryogenics and bulk sales teams can evaluate your usage to determine the delivery system that is appropriate for you. Available in both dewars and bulk tanks, your usage of cryogenic liquids can be optimized by our team to ensure the most economical delivery system for you. To learn more about our cryogenic services or to set up an evaluation, contact your local branch today.
