OXYGEN FACIALS: RED-CARPET SERVICES OR SERIOUS SKIN CARE?

The Oxygen Facial is often marketed as being a red-carpet service, but is there more to it than that? The benefits of topical oxygen extend well beyond just the plum-me-up, blush-me-out, short-term look-good effect, and has its roots and serious skin care.

SKIN PENETRATION
Studies reveal that dermal cells receive oxygen from both the inside and the outside; there is a dynamic balance between both systems of oxygen availability.¹ That balance can be shifted to either side of the availability equation. Oxygen facials shift the equation toward oxygen from the outside.
For example, when you purchase a helium balloon, it floats initially, but is on the floor the next morning. What happened? Within the balloon, pressurized helium molecules were retained by the balloon wall. Pressure gradients allowed the helium atoms to escape by diffusing across the balloon wall barrier.
Providing dermal cells with oxygen involves breaking the barrier created by the epidermis. Just like with the balloon, pressure gradients allow for diffusion. Topical oxygen increases the number of oxygen molecules and increases oxygen pressure against the skin. The net result is increased partial pressure and diffusion throughout the epidermis.
So how can you tell that this is actually happening? The dynamics of the blood vessel are such that when oxygen is applied from the outside, there is vascular bed constriction. Oxygen penetration of the epidermis can result in whitening of the skin. Conditions such as rosacea respond favorably to topical oxygen for this very reason.

Oxygen following microdermabrasion. Following a microdermabrasion treatment, skin is inflamed and irritated. A hyaluronic complex with carrot seed topical oxygen serum can be used to help the skin retain moisture while tightening blood vessels and reducing redness. Oxygen accelerates dermal collagen production through the stimulation of metabolic processes.
Oxygen following surgery. Surgical procedures involve the cutting of tissue and interruption of vascular structure. Blood containing essential oxygen for tissue repair is interrupted to healing tissue. Applying oxygen mist immediately after surgery helps provide essential oxygen to promote tissue repair. Patients heal faster with less chance of infection when oxygen mist is used daily following surgical intervention. Nebulized oxygen is recommended for greater penetration.²
Oxygen for acne. The stand-alone oxygen facial can be used by estheticians for the treatment of acne. Propionibacterium acnes is an anaerobic bacterium residing deep in the pores. It does not tolerate oxygen. Clients with acne outbreaks usually require several treatments until the issue is resolved. Penetrating to the depths of the pore often requires nebulized oxygen procedures. Clients may develop a comedone as bacteria is expelled from the pore.
Oxygen for rosacea. The rosacea client will develop flareups when under dietary or emotional stress. These clients will require three to six sessions to gain control of their condition. It is highly recommended that the nebulizer technique be used. Nebulization carries oxygen deeper into the dermis to get to the deep blood vessels of this condition.
Oxygen for skin healing. Topical oxygen mist is used medically to promote the healing of burns. The foundation of topical oxygen mist is a sterile saline solution. Burn care can begin with the application of sterile saline oxygen mist directly to the injured tissue. Oxygen mist inhibits microbial action while promoting accelerated metabolic activity and healing. The gentle nature of nebulized oxygen makes this application a preferred method.

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REFERENCES
1. M Stücker, PA Struk, K Hoffmann, L Schulze, A Röchling and DW Lübbers, The transepidermal oxygen flux from the environment is in balance with the capillary oxygen supply, J Invest Dermatol 114 3 533–540 (Mar 2000)
2. L Kalliainen, G Gordillo, R Schlanger and C Sen, Topical oxygen as an adjunct to wound healing: A clinical case series, Pathophysiology 9 81–87 (2003)
Craig Wenborg, DC, is the system developer of the Oxyvital Oxygen Facial Infusion System, and has written extensively on the subject of oxygen facials, which are used by many esthetics schools for the teaching of the modality. Wenborg also teaches the art and science of oxygen skin care at trade shows throughout the United States.