Face Ice Baths: Do They Really Help?
Experts say the face ice bath may help address some health claims, but they maintain that you should keep certain caveats in mind.
Face Ice Baths for Hangover Relief
Hangover symptoms vary from person to person and may include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Thirst
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Increased sensitivity to light and sound
Hangovers are caused by a variety of factors following a period of drinking too much alcohol such as poor sleep, dehydration, mild electrolyte imbalances, and gastric reflux, says Adam Lake, MD, a family physician and addiction medicine specialist in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
It could temporarily relieve some of these symptoms because water submersion triggers the “diver’s reflex,” says Dr. Lake. The reflex slows your heart rate, suppresses your breathing, and shifts blood away from your muscles. It’s caused by an increased parasympathetic drive (your body’s calming response to stressors), Lake says. “Anyone who has jumped in a cold pool may be able to relate to the change in breathing that happens immediately,” he says.
This activation of the parasympathetic nervous system response stimulates the vagus nerve, which may play a significant role in how the brain communicates with the digestive and immune systems.
This may explain why the ice bath temporarily relieves nausea for some (though it’s far from proven).
Face Ice Baths for Mental Health Support
Although no evidence supports it, face ice baths might support mental health through their links to the parasympathetic nervous system and the release of “feel good” hormones.
There’s some evidence that full-body, cold-water submersion can help with anxiety and depression, says Allison Young, MD, a practicing psychiatrist and an affiliate professor of psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine in Boca Raton.
A systematic review found that full-body cold-water immersion reduced stress for up to 12 hours after exposure and showed slight self-reported quality-of-life improvements. However, evidence supporting its impact on overall mood is lacking.
Dr. Young isn’t aware of evidence that simply dunking your face in ice water has mental health benefits because formal studies haven’t yet taken place, but it could share some of cold-water submersion’s effects on the body.
Submerging in cold water causes the body to release noradrenaline and beta endorphin, two “feel good” hormones, says Young. This triggers your parasympathetic nervous system. It’s the same effect that other relaxation techniques, like deep breathing practices, have on the body, she says.
Face Ice Baths for Skin
Water temperature is the likely explanation for face ice baths’ suggested skin benefits. The cool water constricts blood vessels, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
This process can reduce redness, swelling, and skin inflammation, he explains.
While products containing benzoyl and salicylic acid are usually best for treating acne, Dr. Zeichner adds that an ice bath may help reduce the redness associated with pimples (though no formal studies have examined this).
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