Whole Body Cryotherapy Skin Hazards

A patch of skin that looks wrong after a very cold session is the smallest symptom in this topic.

Whole body cryotherapy is promoted for several benefits. The American Academy of Dermatology has gathered what is known about the injuries, and the sections below follow its account from the session itself to the rash that can follow.

What a session involves

The American Academy of Dermatology describes whole body cryotherapy, or WBC, as exposing the body to subzero temperatures for 2 to 4 minutes while nearly naked. Temperatures can exceed minus 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dermatologists publish wider guidance on cosmetic procedure safety, which is a useful reference before trying any new service.

What the research has and has not shown

The academy says that, despite the claims made for it, research studies have yet to prove that WBC can deliver any of the promised benefits.

It adds that when scientists from the FDA reviewed the studies, they said they found very little evidence about its safety or effectiveness in treating the conditions for which it is being promoted. As a result, the FDA has not cleared or approved WBC as safe or effective to treat any medical condition.

Frostbite and frozen limbs

Frostbite is the most common skin injury, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It occurs when skin, and sometimes the tissue beneath, freezes, and this can lead to permanent tissue damage. The academy notes that an Olympic sprinter developed frostbite on both feet during a WBC session, and that researchers reported 16 percent of participants in a WBC research study developed mild frostbite.

The academy also describes a woman who finished her 3-minute first session with a frozen arm. As the arm thawed she developed painful swelling, blisters and third-degree burns, which the academy identifies as a type of severe frostbite.

Reading the academy's own page on whole body cryotherapy hazards shows the full set of reports.

The rash that follows

The academy describes a 47-year-old man who had 8 WBC sessions within 2 weeks at a local gym and developed a rash. It started on his lower legs and spread to his thighs, belly and arms.

This condition is called cold panniculitis. It occurs when cold injures the deepest layer of skin, the fatty tissue. People who develop it often have a rash of tiny, hard bumps, raised and scaly patches, or deep lumps in the skin.

To get rid of this rash, the academy says, you must stop injuring your skin, which allows the skin to heal on its own. When this man stopped WBC, it took several weeks for his skin to heal. As the rash fades, some people see darker or lighter patches of skin where it once was, and those patches can last for months before clearing.

How this differs from medical cryosurgery

The academy draws a line between the two. The academy says cryosurgery, unlike WBC, is an accepted medical procedure. When performed by someone skilled in the procedure, such as a board-certified dermatologist, cryosurgery is safe and effective.

The academy ties the safety of cryosurgery to who performs it. That makes the doctor the first thing to check for any cosmetic service, and the best questions to ask when considering a cosmetic treatment are a place to start.

Who should see a doctor first

Dermatologists do not recommend that anyone try WBC, the academy says. For anyone who is tempted, the academy advises proceeding with caution and seeing a doctor first. Some people have a medical condition, such as nerve damage or heart disease, that can worsen with WBC.

What to take from the reports

The injuries in these reports show up on the skin: frostbite, a frozen arm, a spreading rash and patches of discoloration.

Before booking, check the claims against the evidence, talk to a doctor, and read about unsafe skin care trends to avoid.