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.

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.