Cryotherapy is a cold treatment used in several health and well-being indications. Discovery.
In beauty salons, in dermatologists, in thalassotherapy centers or sports halls flourish “cryotherapy” cabins. The principle? Dressed in a swimsuit, you stay 2-3 minutes in an airtight box at least 110 degrees, from which only your head comes out. In April 2025, a woman died in a gym in Paris following a nitrogen leak during a cryotherapy session. The opportunity to recall the indications of this treatment and some warnings with Dr. Nina Roos, dermatologist.
Definition: What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy, also called “cold therapy”, consists in applying cold on a pathological area of the body, it can be the whole body or one part. In France, no regulations restrict the exploitation of whole body cryotherapy cabins to a given profession.
What are the benefits of cryotherapy?
The cold has many benefits on our health: analgesic, vasomotor, anti-inflammatory and myorelexing. “”Because it short-circuits the evil by “falling asleep” the sensitive nerves, it comes to the end of many pains, explains Dr. Nina Roos. It also has anti-edematous and anti-hematomal properties thanks to its action on blood circulation and it stimulates the production of endorphins, hormones whose effects are close to those of morphine“. Cryotherapy is thus used for:
- Foster physical recovery: if after their training, athletes take advantage of a cryotherapy session, it is because the cold reaches the body and relieves aches, bruises and tendonitis.
- Calge the pain: it comes to the end of headaches, gout, osteoarthritis and arthritis attacks.
- Boost blood circulation: The cold tightens the small vessels, which specialists call vasoconstriction, a phenomenon immediately followed, in reaction, of vasodilation. This variation in calibration gives a boost to the lazy blood circulation, relieving heaviness, pain, swelling and impatience.
- Improve the quality of the skin: by boosting skin microcirculation, it improves the firmness and tone of the epidermis.
- Eliminate fat: To maintain the internal temperature at 37 °, the body uses body fat as fuel. It allows you to burn 500 kcal in 3 minutes.
- Destroy certain skin lesions such as warts and molluscum (liquid nitrogen application)
What are the side effects of cryotherapy?
They are multiple. “”It is possible to feel immediate fatigue, Indicates Dr. Roos. Sometimes snags and skin burns in the event of poor protection of the ends, in the event of vascular problems such as raynaud or the taking of vasoconstrictor medications“.
What are the contraindications of cryotherapy?
In the event of vascular problems like Raynaud’s disease and non -balanced chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorder, go your way.
Can we do cryotherapy during pregnancy?
“”The practice is contraindicated by caution, specifies our expert, Due to the little data available in pre -shaped womene”
What is the price of a cryotherapy session?
It takes around 50 € per session, which is not reimbursed by Social Security.
Thanks to Dr. Nina Roos, dermatologist.
