What is that
Facial oxygen therapy is a particular type of aesthetic treatment that in recent years has enjoyed considerable success and is offered in various beauty salons and in various spas.
The treatment is carried out by exploiting a flow of oxygen in the gaseous state which is directed onto the skin of the face
Indications
What is Face Oxygen Therapy used for?
The facial oxygen therapy is mainly used to reduce small imperfections of the time, such as skin spots and expression lines .
However, this technique has also proved useful for combating skin disorders such as acne and rosacea .
How does it work
How Does Face Oxygen Therapy Work?
Oxygen therapy consists in conveying - through the use of special instruments and machinery - a flow of pure oxygen on the skin of the face.
The oxygen administered in this way is able to restore and improve the microcirculation and to reactivate the skin metabolism which could be compromised by normal aging processes, pollution, exposure to sunlight (or artificial UV rays) and stress.
The oxygen therapy applied to the face would also seem to be able to promote the activity of fibroblasts (dermal cells), stimulating them to produce new collagen and new elastic fibers .
Furthermore, the flow of oxygen directed to the skin of the face can be exploited to convey in depth active substances capable of enhancing the action exerted by the gas. For example, when oxygen therapy is performed to counteract the signs of aging, it is not unusual that active substances such as hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids and trace elements are also directed to the skin along with the gaseous flow.
Similarly, useful substances can be used to counteract the typical manifestations of acne and rosacea.
The treatment
How to perform Face Oxygen Therapy
As mentioned, facial oxygen therapy is performed using special machinery that delivers and directs the gas flow to the skin of the face. However, the type of machinery used may vary depending on whether oxygen therapy is practiced in a purely aesthetic field (beauty centers, spas, etc.), or in the medical field (clinics and centers specializing in medicine and cosmetic surgery).
Facial oxygen therapy in the aesthetic field
When used in beauty salons and spas, facial oxygen therapy is performed using a machine that delivers the flow of oxygen through a special airbrush .
However, before proceeding to the actual oxygen therapy treatment, it is necessary to perform a scrub and adequate cleansing of the skin, in order to remove dead cells and impurities. In order for the oxygen to penetrate deep into the skin, in fact, it is necessary for the latter to be clean and for the pores to be dilated.
Only after having performed these preliminary operations will it be possible to perform oxygen therapy. Inside the spray gun used to direct the jet of oxygen, active substances are also inserted, such as hyaluronic acid or other specific cosmetics for the ailment to be treated.
Although the first results are visible from the first session, it is still necessary to carry out a cycle of several sessions to obtain maximum results.
Facial oxygen therapy in aesthetic medicine
Before undergoing the oxygen treatment at the medical level, it is necessary to carry out a preliminary assessment, in which the specialist will identify the problem or the disorder to be treated, try to understand what the patient's expected results are and whether the oxygen therapy to the face is the most suitable treatment. If this is not the case, the doctor will indicate to the patient which treatments are best suited to his specific case.
If, on the other hand, the doctor establishes that face oxygen therapy can be practiced, it will provide all the necessary information and create a personalized protocol for each patient, establishing how many sessions are necessary to obtain the expected results and what other treatments can be associated with the 'oxygen therapy.
Normally, the treatment does not require anesthesia as it is completely painless, nor any preparation, even if, however, it is necessary to perform an accurate skin cleansing .
The face oxygen therapy carried out on a medical level uses machinery whose use is reserved only to health personnel specialized in this field. These machines are equipped with a handpiece from which the pure oxygen flow comes out and on which it is possible to connect - according to need - different heads that carry out different functions. For example, it is not uncommon for a handpiece to be applied to perform the microdermabrasion, thus exfoliating and smoothing which adds to the activity on the microcirculation and on the skin metabolism exerted by oxygen. In a similar manner, it is possible to mount heads able to perform a mechanical massage to the skin of the face, thus helping the action exerted by the gas.
Also in this case, together with the pure oxygen jet - via a special dispenser - it is possible to direct active substances or drugs to the skin to treat the patient's ailment.
This type of treatment lasts about an hour and at its end it is possible to resume normal daily activities immediately.
However, if the microdermabrasion is associated with oxygen therapy, the patient will have to adopt specific precautions and follow all the indications that the doctor will provide before and after the treatment (for more information: Microdermabrasion).
Results
In general, the results obtained with facial oxygen therapy satisfy patients.
In fact, from the first session, the skin appears brighter . Later, the skin will acquire new tone, greater elasticity and the grain will be clearly improved. Continuing with the treatment you will then notice more consistent improvements: expression wrinkles will diminish, pores will be less dilated, skin spots will be attenuated. Furthermore, if oxygen therapy is used to combat rosacea and acne, it is possible to see an involution of the acne processes and any resulting scarring (especially if the treatment is performed at medical level in association with microdermabrasion).
Please note
Since skin aging is a natural process impossible to stop, in order to prolong the results obtained with oxygen therapy cycles, it is necessary to undergo maintenance sessions at more or less long intervals of time.
Finally, let us remember that in the hard fight against the signs of time, a fundamental role is also played by nutrition and lifestyle.
In fact, an unbalanced diet and an unruly lifestyle full of vices (such as smoking, alcohol abuse, etc.) favor and accelerate the aging process, making the results obtained with the void almost. facial oxygen therapy.
Advantages
Facial oxygen therapy has a number of significant advantages compared to other types of medical-aesthetic treatments, in fact:
- It is not an invasive technique;
- It is painless;
- No need for anesthesia;
- It does not need any preparation (except if it is associated with other more invasive treatments, such as microdermabrasion);
- It allows the immediate resumption of normal daily activities;
- Allows to convey specific active ingredients and cosmetics deep into the skin;
- It leaves no marks or scars.
Side effects and contraindications
At the moment, there are no known side effects or contraindications to the use of facial oxygen therapy.
In the field of aesthetic medicine, the possible side effects - as well as the contraindications - are mainly associated with possible dermo-aesthetic treatments performed in association with oxygen treatment.
Please note
Although facial oxygen therapy is considered as a safe and effective treatment, according to some experts, the administration of oxygen on the skin can favor the formation of free radicals which - in the long run - can increase and accelerate normal skin aging.
