5 Health Benefits of Face Icing

One word: thermogenesis. Okay, I admit it’s not the most simple sounding word but the concept is amazingly basic. Known as the process of heat production in organisms, thermogenesis occurs naturally in a select few warm blooded animals found in the wild.

What are the benefits of thermogenesis?

Recent popularity of thermogenesis grew from findings that it can help burn fat and increase your metabolism without the strain of physical exercise.

There are three approaches which humans can use to achieve a state of thermogenesis: exercise associated, non-exercise activity and diet induced thermogenesis. One of the safest methods for humans to achieve a state of non-exercise thermogenesis is by shivering.

Ice baths are not a new thing and have been used in sport therapy and injury rehab to help heal and renew strained or overworked muscles. Polar bear dips have been around since the late 1800’s as a healthy jolt to reduce swelling.

But how realistic is a bath full of ice cold water? Aside from the cost of filling your tub with ice, placing your entire body in freezing cold water is not pleasant. If you manage to submerge your body, you probably won’t last very long.

Good news! You can achieve thermogenesis without putting your whole body into a shiver. Here are 5 benefits of an ice bath for your face:

1. Burn Fat

You may think icing just your face won’t burn fat on the rest of your body but you are sorely mistaken thanks to the vagus nerves. These cranial nerves intertwine control over the nerves of the heart, digestive tract and skeletal muscles right from your head. By throwing the vagus nerves in thermogenesis with an ice cold face bath, you can effectively influence the nerves to burn fat throughout your body.

2. Sleep Better

Thermogenesis is used by animals in the wild to hibernate for months at a time. Thermoregulation is integral to deep sleep cycles and our bodies naturally dip in temperature closer to the evening to encourage slumber. Modern stimulations can often throw this dip into turmoil which is why a cold face plunge can help your body prepare for a deep and sound nights rest.

3. Easy and Affordable

Up next is the simplicity of face bathing. Simply fill a bowl or dish about the size of your head with cold water, toss it in the freezer for 30 minutes and problem solved. Not only are you reducing waste bath water, it can be done quickly. No fuss, no mess.

Check out this video testimonial for more proof that icing your face will benefit your entire body!

4. Improve Skins Appearance

Blemishes like pimples, dry skin and rashes also benefit from a routine of icing your face. Keeping pores tight with a cold body temperature helps to eliminate the chance of bacteria and infection finding a home in the crevices of your skin. Furthermore, by stimulating the body into a shiver, the skin develops a healthy flush on account of increased blood flow.

5. Reduce the Pain of Inflammation

Cold temperatures restrict the flow of blood to the surface which is why professional athletes often use cold plunges to limit muscle swelling post training session. Not only will a face plunge minimize puffiness around the eyes, it can influence blood flow throughout the body and eliminate the strain of inflammation in joints and surrounding muscle tissue.