Cryotherapy: "Fight or Flight" Reduces Stress and Injury

Content provided by icelandcryo.com

Humans, as a modern species, are about 65,000 years old, and our ancestors go back 200,000 years. Long before we had doctors and hospitals, our bodies evolved ways to cope with stress and injury.

Inside our brains and bodies are very special chemicals specifically there to help us mend ourselves. But, how does one trigger the release of these wonderful chemicals?

After a strenuous workout, you may have experienced the “runner’s high”, which is a release of endorphins into the blood stream. The feeling is euphoric; some say it’s a second wind. You feel energetic and focused. Your mood is calmer and you sleep much better.

In the 1970’s doctors in Japan found that by super-cooling the human body for up to 3 minutes causes the brain to go into survival mode releasing the body’s own support chemicals to repair and reset the physiological workings of the brain and body. Endorphins are released as well as neurohormones from the hypothalamus. After four decades of research by European scientists, Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) evolved into what today has become the new standard for recovery and rejuvenation.

Dovepress, The Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine states: “Although it was originally developed to treat chronic medical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, WBC is being increasingly employed by athletes. Its effects include a reduction in inflammation, analgesia, and enhanced recovery following exercise. WBC is typically initiated within the early stages (within 0–24 hours) after exercise and may be repeated several times in the same day or multiple times over a number of weeks. WBC modifies many important biochemical and physiological parameters in human athletes.”

Dr. Oz recommends Cryotherapy for relief from pain and chronic inflammation. Tony Robbins, Padraig Harrington, and Kobe Bryant each have their own Cryosauna at their homes. And recently, LeBron James and Floyd Mayweather are now using WBC.

Please Google “Whole Body Cryotherapy” and see for yourself how this may help you.

Cryotherapy Reduces Appearance of Varicose and Spider Veins

Varicose Veins…say bye bye!

If you suffer from varicose veins, you may believe the only way to eliminate them is through painful surgery. You’d be wrong. Varicose veins can be extremely painful and leave you embarrassed to wear any clothing that reveals your legs. While only you and your doctor can make the final decision, there are alternatives that are easier and far less painful than undergoing surgery. While some of these alternatives include diet and exercise, there is also a more efficient treatment for varicose veins.

What causes varicose veins?

Genetics do play a role in the development of varicose and spider veins. But it is not the sole cause….

  1. Age: As you get older, your veins can lose elasticity, causing them to stretch. The valves in your veins may become weak, allowing blood that should be moving toward your heart to flow backward. Blood pools in your veins, and your veins enlarge and become varicose. The veins appear blue because they contain deoxygenated blood, which is in the process of being recirculated through the lungs.
  2. Pregnancy: Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in your body, but decreases the flow of blood from your legs to your pelvis. This circulatory change is designed to support the growing fetus, but it can produce an unfortunate side effect — enlarged veins in your legs. Varicose veins may surface for the first time or may worsen during late pregnancy, when your uterus exerts greater pressure on the veins in your legs. Changes in your hormones during pregnancy also may play a role. Varicose veins that develop during pregnancy generally improve without medical treatment three to 12 months after delivery.
  3. Excessive Weight: Weight also contributes to the development of varicose and spider veins–additional weight puts pressure on veins and blood vessels trapping blood and leading to the appearance of these veins.
  4. Standing or sitting for long periods of time without moving your legs. Blood doesn’t flow as well if you’re in the same position for long periods.

Improve your circulation to prevent or improve varicose veins.

Exercise and weight loss contribute to improving circulation in your legs, which will alleviate varicose veins. Eating foods higher in fiber, omega-3 and co-enzyme Q-10 can also help. Whole body and local cryotherapyhave also been shown to improve blood circulation and vein elasticity in the legs. The reason is that cryotherapy causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels and veins–this pushes pooled blood out of veins and blood vessels. When the body warms up, vasodilation occurs and fresh blood flows through these veins and blood vessels–this sequence can actually evacuate the veins and blood vessels of trapped blood that is causing the look of varicose and spider veins.  Additionally, the vasoconstriction/vasodilation sequence actually “exercises” your veins creating more elasticity.

You may see a marked improvement in the appearance of varicose veins following cryotherapy. Cryotherapy stimulates circulation, which helps improve their overall appearance. The cold causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels and veins which can evacuate them of trapped blood. You may also see a marked improvement in spider veins. Spider veins are simply small dilated capillaries that are very responsive to the vasoconstriction caused by cryotherapy

Cryotherapy can activate weight loss and corresponding improvement in varicose veins:

Cryotherapy sessions burn between 500 and 800 calories and have been shown to boost the metabolic rate. Losing weight relieves some of the pressure on veins and can help pooled blood flow more freely through the legs. This may improve the appearance of varicose and spider veins.

Better yet—cryotherapy has been shown to reduce fat deposits and cellulite—so in addition to fewer visible veins, you may lose inches and experience smoother skin!

How to Use Cryotherapy & NormaTec Dynamic Compression to Enhance Athletic Performance, Improve Health, and Reduce Cellulite & Varicose Veins

External dynamic compression therapy has been used since the 1960s to enhance the body’s natural circulatory and lymphatic systems. More recently, a rehab physician and bioengineer recognized the value of external compression for health, fitness, and cosmetic objectives. Dr. Laura Jacobs developed NormaTec Dynamic Compression initially to treat chronic wounds, lymphedema, and other circulatory diseases. What she found is that, while NormaTec dynamic compression sleeves are excellent for improving these medical conditions, they are also excellent for improving athletic recovery and performance and for improving cosmetic appearance and health. Currently, NormaTec compression systems are used to:

  1. accelerate athletic muscle recovery;
  2. reduce swelling and inflammation (post-operatively too);
  3. prevent and minimize varicose and spider veins;
  4. reduce cellulite and tighten loose, sagging skin.

The Normatec dynamic compression system is like a massage—both traditional and lymphatic drainage. The NormaTec system utilizes sequential pulsing of compressed air that massages, mobilizes fluid, evacuates lactic acid, inflammation, fat, and other byproducts. The system uses three techniques to facilitate this process; pulsing, gradients, and distal release.

Sequential pulsing essentially mimics the muscle pump of the legs and arms moving inflammation, fluid, fat, and metabolites out which is key in healing after an intense workout, surgery, disease, infrared sauna or cryotherapy. The sequential pulsing is divided into 6 zones to create a pressure gradient; the system uses a “hold pressure” technique that keeps fluids from being forced back in the wrong direction. The sequential pulse technology releases the hold pressure so the limb gains maximal rest time between compression cycles.

The ChillRx NormaTec system offers attachments for legs, hips, arms, and shoulders and has minimal associated risks; risks are equivalent to those associated with a standard massage. The intensity and duration of treatment are set based on the needs or desires of the client. Sessions generally run thirty to sixty minutes.

CoeurCryo recommends NormaTec utilization of post-cryotherapy or pre-infrared sauna to maximize the benefits of these treatments. NormaTec can be used prior to physical exertion to enhance performance—compression warms muscles and improves flexibility, helping to prevent injury. Utilizing NormaTec post-physical exertion helps improve recovery time allowing for more intense training and less pain.

CoeurCryo offers NormaTec as a stand-alone treatment or combined with cryotherapy and/or an infrared sauna. We recommend NormaTec post-cryotherapy and pre-infrared sauna because of its ability to enhance the benefits of these treatments.

Here’s how it works: Cryotherapy is extremely effective for mobilizing inflammation in the body. The physical action of cold causes vasoconstriction which physically pumps inflammation out of blood vessels, muscles and tissue. Cryotherapy also stimulates an anti-inflammatory biochemical response which reduces inflammation at the cellular level throughout the body. Both of these effects mobilize inflammation from cells throughout the body; NormaTec compression will facilitate the evacuation of this inflammation through the lymphatic and circulatory systems. It is an incredibly powerful combination and will significantly enhance the effects of cryotherapy treatment.

Similarly, CoeurCryo recommends NormaTec dynamic compression before and/or after infrared sauna treatment. The infrared sauna uses infrared light and heat to detoxify heavy metals, fat, and inflammation from tissues, muscles, organs, and cells. Compression post-infrared sauna will facilitate the evacuation of these unwanted substances from the body through the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

Who should use NormaTec Dynamic Compression?

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is swelling that may occur in arms or legs, usually after lymph node removal or damage during cancer treatment. It can lead to skin infections and interfere with activities of daily living but can be treated effectively with cryotherapy and NormaTec dynamic compression.

What are Chronic, Non-Healing Wounds?

Poor circulation in the legs, often due to diabetes, can cause non-healing wounds and cellulitis. Cryotherapy combined with NormaTec can effectively treat chronic wounds and reduce wound recurrence.

What is Venous Insufficiency

Venous Insufficiency, where blood flow through the veins is impaired, can lead to swelling, pain, varicose veins, and even ulcers. Cryotherapy, infrared sauna, and NormaTec help restore circulation and treat venous insufficiency.

What is Prevention of DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein deep in the body. Research has shown that DVT can be prevented with regular use of the NormaTec dynamic compression system.

Other Vascular Disorders

NormaTec dynamic compression therapy improves circulation and can help treat many other vascular disorders.

CoeurCryo can recommend a treatment program for medical conditions, cosmetic objectives, and athletic enhancement utilizing cryotherapy and NormaTec dynamic compression. Please call us with your questions!! 208-449-7671.

Want To Say Buh Bye To Cellulite?

TRY HEAT, FREEZE & SQUEEZE AT COEURCRYO!

Cellulite. It is a dirty word. Between 80 – 90 percent of women get it while the percentage of men with cellulite is less than 10%. The exact cause of cellulite is not known but medical experts believe it is a combination of 7 factors:

  1. Poor circulation/lymphatic drainage/toxin accumulation
  2. Inflammation
  3. Oxidative damage
  4. Collagen deterioration
  5. Fat accumulation
  6. Glycation
  7. Scar tissue formation

Thankfully CoeurCryo has a solution to address ALL 7 of these risk factors for cellulite—so YOU can feel great about your gorgeous body!

For cellulite reduction, CoeurCryo offers a three-step process called Heat, Freeze & Squeeze. Since we've been in business, we have MANY clients who have reduced fat & cellulite all over their bodies using this 3-step protocol.

Heat, Freeze, & Squeeze is a combination treatment that starts with heat therapy. We have a full-specturm infrared sauna which uses infrared heat to directly increase the temperature of your fat tissue, leading to a huge calorie burn, metabolic boost AND fat tissue destruction! CoeurCryo's infrared sauna is a 40-minute treatment and includes full body red light therapy which builds collagen in the skin….

The ice part of our Heat, Freeze, & Squeeze treatment is a 3-minute whole body cryotherapy treatment. Whole body cryotherapy involves exposing your (naked) body to temperatures between -149 to -321 F. Cryotherapy is colder than Mars!! Cryotherapy has many benefits including inflammation reduction, pain relief, and weight loss!! A single 3-minute whole body cryotherapy can burn up to 800 calories, boost metabolism and increase mental and physical energy!

So how does Heat, Freeze, & Squeeze help get rid of YOUR cellulite??

Let’s tackle each risk factor one at a time….

  1. Poor circulation/lymphatic drainage/toxin accumulation. Fire & ice improves circulation, and lymphatic drainage and detoxifies toxins in the following ways. Our infrared sauna & slim pod improve blood & lymph circulation by dilating blood & lymph vessels. After infrared therapy, cryotherapy works in the opposite way by vasoconstricting blood & lymph vessels. This contrast therapy creates a pumping action within the blood & lymph circulatory systems to not only improve circulation but to also detoxify waste products and toxins. This vasodilation/vasoconstriction sequence improves Infrared heat and is independently a well-known toxin-detoxifier as infrared heat penetrates fat cells and releases fat-soluble toxins to be detoxified through the blood & lymphatic systems.
  2. Inflammation: Infrared heat improves circulation which promotes the healing of injuries, relieves inflammation, and protects against oxidative stress. Whole body cryotherapy is extremely anti-inflammatory: cold exposure triggers strong biomechanical and biochemical responses in the body leading to a huge reduction in local and system-wide inflammation! The combination of infrared therapy with cryotherapy can significantly reduce inflammation throughout the body, including wherever cellulite is found—leading to a reduction in the appearance of cellulite!
  3. Oxidative damage: whole body cryotherapy specifically triggers a 200 – 300% increase in norepinephrine in the brain and in the body. Norepinephrine is clinically proven to reverse oxidative damage by working as a free-radical scavenger. Since oxidative damage is a cause of cellulite, whole body cryotherapy has significant potential to reduce cellulite through its stimulation of norepinephrine.
  4. Collagen deterioration: Numerous studies have shown that infrared heat can increase collagen & elastin in the skin, leading to visible improvement in skin texture and thickness! Additionally, cold temperature exposure as found in whole body cryotherapy reduces the collagen-degrading enzyme collagenase. So while infrared heat stimulates fibroblasts & collagen production in the skin, cryotherapy can halt the degradation of collagen, leading to an improvement in cellulite!
  5. Fat accumulation: Infrared saunas can burn up to 500 calories and increase metabolism. Whole body cryotherapy can burn up to 800 calories and boost metabolism. The combination of heat & cold can burn tons of calories AND boost metabolism leading to significant fat & weight loss with consistent usage.
  6. Glycation is caused by the presence of excess glucose in skin fibers. This excess glucose triggers an internal reaction in which sugar molecules adhere to collagen and elastin proteins, leading to their deterioration. Both infrared heat and cryotherapy stimulate new collagen production thus potentially reversing glycation and reducing cellulite!
  7. Scar tissue formation—there are many clinical studies showing that inflammation is the trigger for scar tissue formation. Reducing inflammation can not only reduce the formation of scar tissue, it can actually help degrade existing scar tissue! Since infrared heat therapy and cryotherapy are highly anti-inflammatory, they are also highly effective at reducing the appearance of cellulite by also reducing scar tissue!

Wonder why cellulite gets worse with age? For women, as we age our estrogen levels drop which has a negative effect on blood vessels—leading to poor circulation. As mentioned above, poor circulation and toxin build-up are believed to be a cause of cellulite. Older women can counteract this hormonal shift by including Heat, Freeze, & Squeeze in their daily or weekly self-care. You don’t have to live with Cellulite! CoeurCryo Can Help!

Want to give it a try for yourself? We offer a new client sampler that includes one 1st time treatment for each of our core 3 treatments for just $75: whole body cryotherapy, infrared sauna, and normatec compression.

You don't have to live with cellulite! At CoeurCryo we make it easy and affordable for our clients to access the treatments they want and need! Our treatments really do work: all you have to do is give us a try!

Sinuitis Is Caused By Inflammation

As the cold and flu season descend upon us, everyone is worried about sinus infections….Sinus infections, or sinusitis as it is technically called, are caused by a viral or bacterial infection (i.e. a cold, virus or flu). Our bodies attempt to overcome the foreign intruder by increasing inflammation in the sinuses, where the virus or bacteria lives—the problem is that this acute inflammation more often than not turns into chronic inflammation leading to sinus infections and sinusitis. Anyone who has dealt with this condition understands that it is unpleasant, and painful and can lead to work and school absences (not to mention antibiotics which carry along with them an additional host of problems!).

Reducing sinus inflammation is the key to avoiding these infections. Whole body and local cryotherapy reduce inflammation throughout the body, including in the hard-to-reach sinuses! Better yet…stay healthy this winter as cryotherapy has been shown to increase immunity to colds, viruses, and the flu.  Prevention is the best medicine…but if you do get sick, controlling the inflammation is the key to getting better faster!

Check out this great article from healthambition.com about sinus infections and how to suppress inflammation….

What Are the Best Essential Oils to Deal with Sinus Infection?

Whole Body Cryotherapy Relieves Asthma

What it is:

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that makes breathing difficult. Asthma is inflammation in the air passages that results in a temporary narrowing of the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs.

Causes:

  1. Allergens, colds, and environmental triggers cause the bands of muscle surrounding the airways to tighten and air cannot move freely.
  2. People with asthma have red and swollen bronchial tubes. This inflammation is thought to contribute greatly to the long-term damage that asthma can cause to the lungs. And, therefore, treating this inflammation is key to managing asthma in the long run.
  3. Highly sensitive airways: The airways of people with asthma are extremely sensitive; they overreact and narrow due to even the slightest triggers such as pollen, animal dander, dust, or fumes.

Symptoms:

  1. Wheezing
  2. Chest Tightness
  3. Shortness of Breath
  4. Coughing

Triggers:

  1. Infections such as sinusitis, colds, and flu
  2. Allergens
  3. Irritants such as air pollution
  4. Tobacco smoke
  5. Exercise
  6. Weather: change in temperature or humidity
  7. Strong emotions: anxiety, laughter or crying, stress
  8. Medications

At Chill Cryotherapy we have a medically formulated protocol for the treatment of asthma. We offer our clients a customized inflammation reducing cryotherapy treatment program that will reduce the coughing, wheezing, and tightness associated with asthma.  By reducing inflammation at the cellular level, airway narrowing is reversed and air moves more freely into the lungs. Additionally, histamine is a prominent component to allergic diseases such as asthma–allergenic triggers cause the body to release histamine which creates asthma symptoms. Whole body cryotherapy has been shown to reduce histamine production–potentially reducing the reactivity of the airways to allergen triggers. We treat adults and children over the age of 9. Parental consent and presence is required for the treatment of children under the age of 18. Please call us to discuss your treatment options for asthma: 208-449-7671

Reduce Eczema & Other Skin Issues With Cryotherapy

Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become red, itchy and inflamed. Eczema is considered to be an autoimmune condition because it occurs due to an overactive immune response to an environmental trigger. Inflammation results and causes the symptoms of eczema.

30 million Americans have some form of eczema but it’s not contagious.  People who develop eczema do so because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers. When an irritant or an allergen “turns on” the immune system, inflammation develops and causes skin cells to behave aberrantly causing an eczema flare-up. All symptoms of eczema are the result of excess inflammation.

CoeurCryo Cryotherapy uses cryotherapy (extremely cold, dry temperatures) to reduce eczema-related symptoms. Depending on the type and severity of symptoms, we use a combination of whole body and local cryotherapy to treat eczema. Because eczema is an autoimmune disorder, the underlying cause of  the excessive, out of control inflammation is unknown; cryotherapy can effectively and safely suppress inflammation so that symptoms are significantly relieved.

Eczema is often treated pharmaceutically with steroids and other anti-inflammatories. Whole body and local cryotherapy are all natural alternatives to drug options. Whole body cryotherapy can suppress inflammation throughout the body, internally and externally. By suppressing inflammation globally in the body, the symptoms of eczema can diminish significantly. Local cryotherapy can be used in conjunction with whole body or on it’s own to relieve external eczema symptoms.

There are eight different types of eczema and it is possible to have more than one type at a time.:

All types of eczema cause itching and redness, but some may also cause your skin to blister, “weep,” or peel. Eczema symptoms can be suppressed by reducing inflammation throughout the body and specifically in the skin.

  1. Atopic Dermatitis: This is the most common type of eczema which can be severe and long-lasting. Atopic dermatitis is chronic and inflammatory. AD is an autoimmune condition because it is caused by an immune system overreaction and usually begins in childhood, often in the first six months of the life. AD might improve at times or it may get worse (called a “flare up”).AD is part of what’s called the atopic triad, which includes two other allergic conditions (asthma and hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis). Researchers believe that people who come from families with a history of AD, asthma and/ or hay fever are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis themselves. Common symptoms of AD:
  1. Contact dermatitis is another type of eczema; it happens when the skin touches irritating substances or allergens. The immune system over-responds with excessive inflammation, causing the skin to burn, itch and become red. There are two kinds of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. Contact dermatitis usually appears on the hands, or parts of the body that touched the irritant/allergen. The most common irritants include:

Symptoms of contact dermatitis include:

  1. Dyshidrotic eczema is a condition that produces small, itchy blisters on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet. Stress, allergies, moist hands, and feet, or exposure to nickel (in metal-plated jewelry), cobalt or chromium salts may be “triggers” of dyshidrotic eczema. This type of eczema is twice as common in women as it is in men. Symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema include:
  1. Hand eczema (also known as hand dermatitis) is very common — up to 10% of the population has this type of eczema. It is also an autoimmune response to an environmental trigger such as allergens or irritating substances. Suppressing the inflammation caused by an over active immune system will suppress dyshidrotic eczema symptoms.Some symptoms of hand eczema:
  1. Lichen simplex chronicus is an itchy skin disease that is similar to atopic dermatitis. People with lichen simplex chronicus tend to get thick, scaly patches on their skin as a result of too much rubbing and scratching of the area.Some symptoms of lichen simplex chronicus:
  1. Nummular eczema, also known as discoid eczema and nummular dermatitis, is a common type of eczema that can occur at any age. It looks very different than usual eczema and can be much more difficult to treat. People with nummular eczema develop coin-shaped spots on their skin, which may be very itchy. It is thought to be “triggered” by things like insect bites, reactions to skin inflammation, or dry skin in the winter. Some symptoms of nummular eczema include:
  1. Seborrheic dermatitis

Considered a chronic form of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis appears on the body where there are a lot of oil-producing (sebaceous) glands like the upper back, nose, and scalp.

The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, although genes and hormones play a role. Microorganisms such as yeast, that live on the skin naturally can also contribute to seborrheic dermatitis. Unlike many other forms of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis is not the result of an allergy.

People of any age can develop seborrheic dermatitis including infants (known as “cradle cap”). It is slightly more common in men than women.

People with certain diseases that affect the immune system, such as HIV or AIDS, and the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, are believed to be at an increased risk of developing seborrheic dermatitis.

Seborrheic dermatitis often appears on the scalp, where symptoms may range from dry flakes (dandruff) to yellow, greasy scales with reddened skin. Patients can also develop seborrheic dermatitis on other oily areas of their body, such as the face, upper chest, and back.

Common symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include:

  1. Stasis Dermatitis is skin inflammation that develops in people with poor circulation. It most often occurs in the lower legs because that’s where blood typically collects. When blood collects or pools in the veins in the lower legs, the pressure on the veins increases. The increased pressure damages capillaries, allowing proteins to leak into tissues. This leakage leads to a buildup of blood cells, fluid, and proteins, which causes your legs to swell. This swelling is called peripheral edema. Skin inflammation occurs as an autoimmune response to the build-up of blood cells, fluid, and proteins in tissues. Relieving this inflammation topically and internally will relieve symptoms of stasis dermatitis.

Symptoms of stasis dermatitis include:

CoeurCryo Cryotherapy treats eczema with a combination of whole body and local cryotherapy. Cold exposure globally and/or locally to areas of eczema reduces the inflammation that is causing eczema symptoms. We also use infrared sauna in combination with cryotherapy to accelerate eczema symptom reduction. Infrared sauna therapy improves blood circulation, detoxifies the skin and reduces skin inflammation. All of these benefits contribute to eczema relief!

Call us to discuss eczema and any other health concern! 208-449-7671.

CoeurCryo has a medical advisor on staff who oversees our treatment protocols for safety and effectiveness.

New Research: Acne Is Caused By Inflammation

Acne isn’t fun. The skin condition affects roughly 80 percent of adolescents and can persist well into adulthood. The psychological and social impacts of acne are especially serious because it affects adolescents at a crucial period when they are developing their personalities. Peer acceptance is very important for this age group and research shows that there are strong links between physical appearance and peer status. Acne can affect:

  1. Self-esteem and body image—acne sufferers may have low self-esteem and may avoid eye contact or grow their hair long to cover their acne.
  2. Social withdrawal/relationship building—acne sufferers find it hard to form new relationships, especially with the opposite sex, due to a lack of self-confidence.
  3. Education/work—acne sufferers may refuse to go to school or work, leading to poor academic or work performance.

Historically, curing acne hasn’t been easy. Pharmaceutical treatments such as Accutane and antibiotics can be effective in reducing symptoms, but do have serious side effects and should only be used in severe cases.

Dermatologists have long believed that bacterial infection is the cause of acne; the latest research indicates, however, that bacteria may cause acne symptoms, but does not trigger the skin disorder. Based on the latest research, the most effective treatments are now targeting systemic inflammation and oxidative stress as the cause of acne.

The role of inflammation in acne

The latest research shows that inflammation plays both a primary and secondary role in the acne process.

We’re all familiar with inflammation in the later (secondary) stages of acne: pimples are red, swollen, and painful because they are rife with localized inflammation. Where does this localized inflammation come from? It is the immune system’s normal response to infection: in the case of acne, there is bacterial overgrowth in the skin pores and the immune system activates inflammation to fight off the infection. The immune system sends white blood cells to fight the infection—the accumulation of these cells causes swelling = inflammation. Infection in the skin thus produces the symptoms of acne: painful, red, swollen pimples.

acne graphic

The process to the left describes inflammation’s secondary role in the development of acne. Scientists are now focusing on the primary role of inflammation in the acne process: they now believe that inflammation triggers the entire process. That is, inflammation is the cause of acne!

New research shows that the entire acne process starts when systemic inflammation (inflammation at the cellular level) causes normal levels of sebum in hair follicles to “oxidize”. This means that inflammation damages the sebum and causes the oxygen content of the sebum to lower. Notably, inflammation isn’t the only cause of oxidation in sebum—stress, environmental toxins, and other “free radicals” can also trigger oxidation. Regardless of the source of the oxidation, the bacteria known to cause acne (p.acnes) thrive in a low-oxygen environment and start multiplying like crazy. Once the bacteria colonizes the hair follicle, infection develops and secondary inflammation develops—leading to red, round, inflamed pimples on the skin’s surface. The sequence of events goes like this: inflammation triggers oxidation that triggers a bacterial infection that then triggers a second localized inflammatory response!

What causes systemic inflammation:

Systemic inflammation can be caused by stress, poor diet (food intolerances and gastrointestinal problems), environmental factors, and underlying health disorders like auto-immune dysfunction.

If inflammation is the source of acne, how can we treat and prevent it? There are two effective ways:

  1. Lower systemic inflammation: by lowering inflammation throughout the body, it is possible to reduce sebum oxidation in skin pores/hair follicles. Reducing this oxidation ensures a less hospitable environment for the p.acnes bacteria and a lower risk for infection. In the absence of infection, there will be no secondary inflammatory response from the immune system and painful, red, swollen pimples will not develop!
  2. Increase anti-oxidants: research has shown that acne sufferers are under greater oxidative stress compared to people with healthy skin. Oxidative stress can be caused by inflammation and other factors. Oxidative stress in the skin can be reduced by increasing anti-oxidants systemically and locally on the skin. Anti-oxidants can be consumed orally (through supplements and food sources) and can also be applied topically to the skin.

What is the role of cryotherapy in the treatment of acne?

Research has shown that people with acne have higher levels of inflammatory chemicals in their blood; they also have significantly lower levels of several antioxidant nutrients compared to people with healthy skin.

Cryotherapy can effectively address both of these problems!

CoeurCryo Cryotherapy offers two cryotherapy treatments that can treat and prevent acne.

  1. Whole body cryotherapy is the brief application of very cold air to the body (from the neck down). Whole body cryotherapy is extremely anti-inflammatory—cold exposure causes vasoconstriction in all blood vessels which evacuates inflammatory markers. Once evacuated, inflammation is detoxified through the lymphatic system. Whole body cryotherapy also triggers the release of blood-borne anti-inflammatory biochemicals; these cytokines travel throughout the body, including areas that are NOT directly exposed to the cold, reducing cellular inflammation. Whole body cryotherapy is an excellent tool for reducing systemic inflammation. Whole body cryotherapy has also been shown to increase antioxidant levels in the body. By increasing anti-oxidants, oxidative stress is reduced in the skin and sebum is much less likely to be oxidized; bacterial infection in the skin pores is also less likely to occur.
  2.  CoeurCryo Cryotherapy also uses local cryotherapy to treat acne.  Local cryotherapy applies very cold air directly to acne-affected skin. The cold air causes immediate local vasoconstriction, shrinking inflamed pimples and reducing redness. Local cryotherapy (when applied to the face is called CryoFacial) reduces mild scaring, redness, swelling, and pain related to acne. There is a visible cosmetic improvement to the skin when local cryotherapy is applied.

Managing inflammation and correcting antioxidant depletion often brings much-needed relief to acne patients. Preventing local inflammation in the skin and lowering systemic inflammation in the body are the keys to clear skin. CoeurCryo Cryotherapy offers medically formulated cryotherapy treatment programs for acne. Our medical staff has designed our acne treatment program to be the most effective, efficient, and safe protocol available. We offer student discounts and a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to solving the problem of acne.

Call us at 208-449-7671.

Sources:

Does the plasma level of vitamins A and E affect acne condition?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16681594

OXIDANT/ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN OBESE ADOLESCENT FEMALES WITH ACNE VULGARIS
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2800868/

The role of the antioxidative defense system in papulopustular acne.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11349462https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11349462

Tissue and blood superoxide dismutase activities and malondialdehyde levels in different clinical severities of acne vulgaris.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18684157

Oxidative stress in patients with acne vulgaris.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1533901/?tool=pubmed

Superoxide dismutase and myeloperoxidase activities in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in acne vulgaris.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16001098

Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in acne vulgaris and the effect of selenium and vitamin E treatment.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6203294

Clinical implications of lipid peroxidation in acne vulgaris: old wine in new bottles.
https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/21143923/full_citation/Clinical_implications_of_lipid_peroxidation_in_acne_vulgaris:_old_wine_in_new_bottles_

Sebaceous gland lipids
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835893/?tool=pubmed

Inflammation Ages Your Skin: Fight Back With Cryotherapy

Not all inflammation is bad. Acute inflammation—the kind that occurs immediately following an injury or infection– is necessary to initiate healing. We’re all familiar with this acute version: swelling, redness and pain immediately develop from an injury or infection as blood, leukocytes and other immune defensive biochemicals race to the scene. Acute inflammation should last a few days to a few weeks as the injury or infection is healed or cleared out by the immune system.

Inflammation becomes far more sinister when it enters into the chronic realm. Chronic inflammation isn’t necessarily visible—but it can last days, months, or even years and it can lead to premature aging of the body and skin.

Chronic inflammation occurs due to longer-term injury or infection: chronic exposure to toxins (like alcohol and cigarettes), allergens, stress, irritants, autoimmune dysfunction, physical or emotional trauma and inflammatory foods (like sugar!). Exposure to these stimulants triggers the release of free radicals and arachidonic acid, initiating the “inflammatory cascade”—leukocytes and blood are mobilized, just like the acute inflammatory process. The real players though are called MMPs: matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs accompany inflammation for all of the right reasons: they enzymatically destroy injured tissue making way for the growth of healthy, new tissue. MMPs are required to remodel tissue during wound healing. The problem is that in the case of chronic inflammation, there isn’t injured tissue, only healthy tissue. So the MMPs destroy that instead….

MMPs break down the core components of healthy skin: collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s)and other connective tissue. If chronic inflammation exists in the skin or elsewhere in the body, MMPs will cause skin to thin, wrinkle, lose elasticity and discolor. It isn’t pretty! MMPs are also responsible for the scarring and pitting that is caused by chronic acne inflammation.

There are over 30 different types of the MMPs…but the main culprits will sound familiar: collagenase (breaks down collagen), elastinase (breaks down elastin) and hyaluronidase (breaks down hyaluronic acid). The breakdown of these key connective tissues leads to aging everywhere—in the skin, joints, organs etc. The bottom line is MMPs are bad for your skin and body unless you’re fighting an acute infection or injury.

In order to maintain beautiful, healthy skin as you age it’s necessary to reduce chronic inflammation in your body—and avoid the release of MMPs! You can do this in a number of ways:

  1. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet that is low in sugar and high in fruits & vegetables;
  2. Limit exposure to toxins and other irritants;
  3. Exercise to de-stress, lose weight and build muscle;
  4. Use products that decrease MMPs…examples are retinol, vitamin C, resveratrol and ginger;
  5. Use whole body and local cryotherapy to lighten your inflammatory load in your body and on your skin!

To prevent and potentially reverse the signs of aging in your skin, we recommend whole body cryotherapy at least 2 times a week; add a CryoFacial one to two times a week to directly reduce inflammation in the skin. Here’s what you will notice after starting cryotherapy:

  1. Acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis diminish or even disappear!
  2. Dry, rough, flaking skin is relieved. Skin is smoother, softer.
  3. Skin is tighter, spongier, more elastic.
  4. Cellulite is reduced from increased collagen and reduced fat.
  5. Wrinkles diminish as collagen, elastin & hyaluronic acid increase.
  6. Brown spots and other pigmentation diminish.

You will love the many benefits cryotherapy has on your skin. Cryotherapy will also increase both mental and physical energy, help reduce weight, increase metabolism and improve cognitive function and sleep!!! By reducing inflammation throughout the body, at the cellular level, cryotherapy can transform you mentally & physically. Give CoeurCryo a call to learn more at 208-449-7671 or visit our website for more blogs at www.coeurcryo.com.

Localized Cryotherapy For Migraine Relief

The idea behind cryotherapy for migraine relief is that the cold (typically between -120° and -160° degrees) triggers a physiological response in the body. While often thought of as a whole-body treatment, it can also be used as a localized treatment. Here it causes blood vessels to constrict, reduces blood flow and slows down the transmission of pain signals to the brain providing migraine relief.

Jennifer booked her first session at Coeur Cryo in Coeur d'Alene and we walked her through the entire treatment. Owner and Cryotherapy expert Susan Kellner said, “When Jennifer came in, she was suffering from a very debilitating migraine. We gave her a localized treatment which involved applying extreme cold therapy to the back of her neck and head using our T-Elephant cryotherapy machine. Sure it's cold, but it's completely painless."

“In fact, right after the first session, she experienced a significant reduction in pain, and it’s continued to get even better. She used to come in twice a week for treatments, which turned into once a week, then every two weeks, and now it’s once every three weeks because she doesn’t need it as often.”

Jennifer is now experiencing longer-term benefits, “After five sessions, I noticed that after getting migraines probably once a week, I’d get migraines only once or twice a month, which is such a significant change from what I had experienced in the past.”

She added that the improvements are giving her quality of life a significant boost. Where frequent migraines used to mean she used to miss out on social gatherings or had to give up her favorite foods and drink knowing they would leave her suffering, now her life is returning to normal and "missing out" is becoming the rarity rather than the norm.

“Migraines are very debilitating and it can dramatically affect your quality of life,” Susan said, the owner of Coeur Cryo. "As a long term sufferer of migraines myself, I can understand the desperation to find a solution that not only helps in the moment but also over the long term”.

Jennifer said of the Cryotherapy team at Coeur Cryo: “I’d like to thank Susan for all of the hard work that she does, and for providing a solution to something that has definitely affected my quality of life because this has really improved it. This is definitely something that I’m going to continue."

Localized Cryotherapy And Migraine Relief

Typical Localized Cryotherapy treatments last around 5-10 minutes, are completely painless and quite refreshing. They can significantly reduce pain of a migraine in process or if done close to when you get any type of aura or twinkling, can prevent the migraine from happening at all. Regular use of the Localized Cryotherapy has often helped to reduce the amount of migraines over time. If you would like to learn more about Localized Cryotherapy, please give us a call at 208-449-7671 or read more about it HERE.