Surely you’ve heard of topical cryotherapy or cryo-cautery for a lot of skin problems, but did you know that… Benefits of cryotherapy And the diseases it treats are much more than skin problems. In this article, learn about these benefits and diseases with which cryotherapy is used, as well as the most important frequently asked questions about this technique.

Cryotherapy

It is considered Cryotherapy One of the latest therapeutic techniques that has been widely followed recently due to its relative safety compared to other therapeutic techniques, where very low temperatures (90-140 degrees Celsius below zero) are used, either by using liquid nitrogen, vaporized nitrogen or ice bags, and can be used for the body. whole or can be used topically or on internal body organs (

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Benefits of cryotherapy

There are many diseases and problems that cryotherapy can treat according to the type used, the most important diseases and problems that have been tried and showed promising results so far are:

Migraine pain relief

Cryotherapy can help relieve migraine pain by cooling the nerves in the neck, and this is done by using local ice bags that also work to cool the blood vessels connecting to the brain through the neck, and the study has proven the success of this method in relieving pain in the participants.

Relieving muscle and joint pain

As it helps in the treatment and recovery of stadium injuries, by applying cold ice bags to the injury area, and after removing them, blood circulation can return to the affected area, which helps speed up the healing process.

Also, some studies have shown that cooling can help relieve joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, and some studies have suggested the role of complete cooling in treating muscle pain, but other researches have found that it is completely useless in relieving pain.

Benefits of cryotherapy for weight loss

In fact, cryotherapy alone cannot work on weight loss, but it can help improve metabolism in response to the feeling of cold, which helps the weight loss process, but so far the success or effectiveness of this method has not been fully proven.

Reducing inflammation

Some studies have suggested that cryotherapy is useful for treating inflammation in the body resulting from weak immunity and infection, but this research has so far been done on mice only and there is still a need for more research to prove this benefit.

Cryo-cautery for dermatology

This type is certainly very common and is called cool ironing, Liquid nitrogen is often used topically on problematic parts of the skin, such as fish eyes, warts, atopic dermatitis, and eczema. Some research is also underway regarding the use of cryotherapy for acne problems by targeting the sebaceous glands.

Benefits of cryotherapy for athletes

These techniques are very common among athletes over many years, as some athletes depend on exposure to the cold provided by various cooling techniques, such as cold rooms or saunas, or even local cooling, to treat sports injuries and accelerate recovery from them and work to activate muscles and relieve their spasms, also doctors can use An endoscope or probe with the coolant to target the irritated nerves that are causing the pain.

Prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s

Because cryotherapy has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and agents, some studies have suggested that cryotherapy may be beneficial in preventing inflammatory stress associated with the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Reducing depression and anxiety disorders

Also, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, cryotherapy may help reduce inflammation that may have a role in mental illness, and some preliminary studies indicated that this technique showed reducing symptoms of these diseases in 50% of the participants.

Treating mood disorders

Applying the treatment to the whole body can stimulate the hormonal response in the body, releasing the hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and endorphins that work to give a positive feeling and temporarily help improve the mood.

Cancer treatment and prevention

This treatment depends on freezing cancer cells in their infancy, or preventing infections that can cause some types of cancer such as prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and skin cancer, but this treatment has not been widely used yet, and it is not effective in treating cancer in advanced stages. .

Is cryotherapy safe?

Although there are not many studies that prove the benefits of cryotherapy that we mentioned, it is considered relatively safe so far, but you should consult a doctor first before trying Whole body cryotherapy WBC Because it has not yet obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, unless the doctor himself uses topical treatment to treat some of the skin problems we mentioned or some injuries.

You should also be careful not to sleep when using it and not be in freezing temperatures for more than a few minutes, not more than 4 minutes, because exposure to cold for a longer period of time can have serious life-threatening complications.

But if you suffer from some diseases such as heart disease or blood pressure disease, you should not try it. Also, it should not be used with pregnant women and children under 18 years old.

Frequently asked questions about cryotherapy

What are the risks of whole body cryotherapy?

The body may be exposed to tissue damage, the severity of which may range from mild damage to frostbite, and it may also be dangerous for patients who are exposed to nerve damage and loss of sensation, such as diabetics. There are also some reports regarding some side effects such as blisters, pain, swelling, and skin burns.

What about the treatment of sports injuries by cooling?

So far, it is considered relatively safe and may be effective in speeding up recovery, while taking the necessary precautions and having a specialist with the patient during the session. You should also tell the specialist if you suffer from any other health problem.

What are the symptoms of frostbite and can it be treated?

The patient may feel cold, tingling, and irritation in the skin with the appearance of a red, blue, yellowish-gray, or white color, and it can be treated by returning heat to the affected area with a warm water bath, pain relievers, and antibiotics to prevent infection, and the doctor may resort to removing damaged tissue in order to allow healthy tissue Regenerative, and in severe cases, fluid-filled blisters may appear during the healing process after reheating the skin.

Finally, after you have learned about the benefits of cryotherapy and the diseases that it helps to treat and prevent, we must remind you to consult a doctor before following any advice regarding exposure to cooling, especially for the whole body, and you should look for a reliable center where specialists apply this technique professionally.