Oxygen is a very essential requirement of our body as we cannot survive without it. It is because of oxygen that our heart pumps the blood through our body making circulation another important process in living beings. The cells in our body require oxygen to metabolize the various proteins, enzymes and hormones, based on which we are healthy and active. However, when these cells don't get enough oxygen, or the ability of using this oxygen diminishes with age, there are signs like age spots, lines, wrinkles, dullness in skin, etc. Well, as a result of this deficiency of oxygen, your skin starts looking older and dehydrated. Therefore, oxygen being the most important factor in facial skin care, there are provisions of supplying oxygen externally through facials. This cosmetic treatment is known as oxygen facial and is very popular because of its claimed effectiveness. Coming up is a brief description about these treatments, take a look.
What is this Facial?
Hyperbaric oxygen or high-pressure oxygen is a type of oxygen that is used at a pressure which is above one atmosphere (1 atm). To start with the definition of a facial, it is a rejuvenation therapy used on the skin which is unable to use internal oxygen to nourish the facial cells. In this therapy, the hyperbaric oxygen, along with serums packed with minerals, vitamins and collagen are provided to the skin externally through a tube/spray like machine which is used directly on the skin.
Even though these facials use hyperbaric oxygen, this therapy should not be misunderstood as "hyperbaric oxygen therapy". The latter is a very different treatment used for correction of burn wounds, and other skin abnormalities. Once the facial is over, the skin looks clear, fresh and is smoother than before. It is also used for skin tightening. Just like other facials, you will notice an immediate difference in the appearance of the skin, and you look younger than before. Find out how do these treatments work on the facial skin and what brings the glow.
How Do these Facials Work?
Unlike some living beings, we humans cannot respire through our skin and thus, the concept of our skin taking in oxygen externally cannot be depended on. Other than entering our body through the lungs, there is no other way that oxygen from the air can enter into our bodies and thus be used by our cells for rejuvenation. When we are talking about supplying hyperbaric oxygen to the skin for correction, there are large chambers through which this process is done and the hyperbaric oxygen therapy has proved to be effective.
Except for a few drugs which are administered through skin patches, our skin cannot absorb any other substance externally, therefore this is not the mechanism in which facials work. One reason why these facials might work can be because of the mild inflammatory response that is caused due to the forced gapping in the epidermis. The other reason could be because of the stimulated fibroblast activity which is also caused by the inflammatory response. However, there are oxygen therapy side effects as well.
This is also called the Microdermabrasion, but none of these reasons are scientifically proven and thus, making a solid conclusion as to how the facials work is not advised. Therefore, even without scientific evidence as to how these facial treatments work, people who want to go in for rejuvenation therapies don't mind paying a good amount for the same. There are some machines, which involves a mask, which is to be worn on the face of the patient and the oxygen is then provided through a tube. The cost of one treatment is about $500.
With this information about the oxygen facial, hope you have found what you are looking for. Make sure you consult with a dermatologist before taking up any skin treatments, as your skin is a very sensitive part of your body and needs to be taken care of.
