6 Ice Bath Benefits for Skin
Taking advantage of the power of cold as a therapy for skin care is important in this modern day. Many research and studies have emerged, showing ways to improve skin health by submerging the body into an ice bath.
Now, it’s easier than ever to tighten the skin and restore a youthful appearance with a cold water plunge! Contrary to popular belief, cold water plunge is not just for athletes. It also comes with plenty of benefits especially for the skin
This blog post discusses 6 benefits of ice baths for the overall wellness of the skin and some factors to consider when choosing ice bath tubs.
What are Ice Baths (Cold Water Therapy)?
The process of immersing your body in ice water for about 5–15 minutes is known as cold water immersion (CWI) or ice baths. For a short time, your body is exposed to very cold temperatures through this type of cryotherapy.
This practice has been around for quite a while and is favoured by professional athletes for recovery and conditioning. But recently, it is getting more attention because of its significant benefits in skincare and skin health.
Cold Therapy for Skin: The Science Behind It
According to the research carried out at University Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, on Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures, when our body is exposed to cold water, the metabolic rate in the body increases significantly (by 350%) to generate heat and maintain the body’s core temperature. This is followed by a large amount of plasma noradrenaline and dopamine concentrations, which play important roles in the body’s stress response and mood regulation.
The research also addressed how localised cold exposure can lead to a reduction in tissue temperature, affecting blood circulation, cell swelling, metabolism, and neural conduction velocity. At the cellular level, cold can impair contraction kinetics in muscle and reduce the rate of excitation-contraction coupling.
This generally suggests that with this practice, body health can be enhanced significantly, especially the skin by balancing sebum levels, reducing acne and blocked pores, and therefore releasing norepinephrine to modulate sebum production.
7 Ice Bath Benefits for Skin
Everyone reacts differently, but there are several ways ice bathing can be beneficial to the skin. Here are 6 important benefits of ice bath for skin:
Reduces Inflammation
When it comes to skin health, inflammation poses a great problem for many people. Ice baths give much needed relief from inflammation resulting from either injuries, surgery, or other skin ailments.
Increases Blood Circulation of the Skin
The body maintains an internal temperature by constricting blood vessels in response to cold water, and this can actually lead to improved circulation and blood flow throughout the body.
Studies show that your body starts warming itself up once the ice bath stops, which leads to increased blood flow as your blood vessels increase in size due to dilation.
When oxygen and nutrients rush to your tissues, damaged tissues undergo repair, thereby healing injured skin cells.
Relieves Painful Sunburns
One of the problems for skin health is the exposure to the sun, thereby causing sunburns. Besides damaging the skin, sunburns can also make sleeping at night and going about your daily duties almost unbearable.
Ice baths provide soothing pain relief for sunburns, helping you with better sleep at night and staying productive all day.
Aids in Skin Exfoliation
Ice baths can help in removing dead skin cells, which is another important element of maintaining a healthy skin. Removal of dead skin cells allows new ones to grow, providing a younger looking skin all over.
Reduces Blemish-causing Oils
Skin pores are reduced in size when taking ice baths, this helps to stop the production of excessive oils. Stopping this, reduces acne, pimples, blackheads, and redness. If you have a painful blemish already present, the cold can provide soothing relief that will last long after getting out of the ice bath tub.
Improves the Efficacy of Skincare Products
Skincare products can sometimes be too pricey, so getting the most from them is essential.
Skincare products work better when pores and capillaries are constricted due to ice baths. As a result of this constriction, the skincare products can penetrate deeper into the skin, revitalising wrinkled areas and eliminating wrinkles.
Choosing Ice Baths for your Skin Health
Ensuring a safe and effective experience is one of the factors to be considered when choosing the right ice bath.
Aside from that, the size of the ice bath tub also matters. It should be spacious enough to allow for comfortable immersion yet not excessively large, as this may require an impractical amount of ice.
Also, the ice bath material is another crucial factor to be considered. Opting for a well-insulated and durable material helps maintain a consistent and frigid temperature, optimising the therapeutic effects of cold therapy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ice baths offer a range of health benefits that may be surprising initially. Because of the history associated with cold water therapy, this practice is seen to be beneficial for skin health and the overall wellness of the body.
However, it’s important to approach cold water immersion carefully, following the proper temperature and duration for safety reasons.
Contact Chill Tubs to Try Ice Baths for Skin Health
Want to take the first step towards trying ice baths for skin health? No matter how you plan to incorporate cold water therapy into your routine, our knowledgeable team is here to help!
Shop our range of ice baths online today, and get in touch if you have any questions for our team.
