If you want to pay big bucks to have some air sprayed at your face, try an oxygen facial. Actually, it isn’t just the Big O that’ll hit you: the oxygen “atomizer” also contains a blend of collagen, vitamins and minerals that are designed to smooth out wrinkles and plump up your face.
Oxygen facials are super-trendy, with big-name stars such as Madonna reportedly big fans. But skeptics say they don’t really work, and that any short-term “plumping” effect on the face is really just mild inflammation caused by the oxygen acting as an irritant (if you’re allergic to the other ingredients, your face could really fatten up!).
Are oxygen facials a breath of fresh air - or just a load of hot air? You decide.
All About the Big O
It sounds a bit farcical, and even a little bit sad. Rich folk are paying hundreds of dollars to have blasts of hot air containing a blend of moisturizers sprayed into their face, to make it appear smoother and more plumped up. Believe it or not, the treatment can cost up to $500 a shot, but supposedly celebrities worried about how they will look on high-definition television believe it a worthwhile investment.
In a nutshell, oxygen facials work – short-term only – because the number of soothing, moisturizing ingredients which are being sprayed into the face can make it look smoother and fatter for up to 48 hours – plus the side effect of irritation can add to the look. But there is no real long-term effect, and the cost can be prohibitive. Some people swear you can get the same result from riding a bicycle for half an hour, or doing any type of exercise where you sweat profusely and bring a healthy glow to your face. Sex, perhaps?
However, some oxygen fans say that oxygen facials can help get rid of a multitude of skin complaints, from treating acne to killing nasty bacteria that can collect in the skin. Others say such facials are important in providing needed oxygen which urban pollution is depriving us of, but others say that’s untrue. The only things that can deprive our skin of oxygen, they say, are smoking, heart disease and anemia.
The facials are administered using a simple oxygen generator and/or storage tank, along with a pressure regulator and a spray gun. The oxygen is compressed then sprayed onto the desired area, with the cocktail of added ingredients being introduced just before the stream hits the skin. It is thought that the oxygen helps the skin to better absorb the ingredients, which can be made up to suit virtually any skin type.
It’s interesting to note that while the effect is only temporary, many oxygen practitioners recommend a full series of (expensive) treatments. Madonna reportedly has her own “oxygen facialist” on staff.
Oxygen Cocktails
Some people, especially professional athletes, believe that oxygen cocktails can help improve athletic performance. These special blends contain a concoction of vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, nutrients and amino acids, all oxygenated together into a thick, soft foam to (theoretically) provide a faster and more efficient uptake by the body.
According to the Oxygen Cocktail website (www.oxygen-cocktail.com), there are numerous health benefits of drinking their products, which they claim are designed specifically to promote the following:
· Extended physical and mental endurance
· Healthy cells
· Optimum sports performance
· Reduced fatigue
· Maximized stress resistance
· Increased energy
· Improved immune system
· Weight management
· General detoxification
· Optimum mental clarity
Bar None
Oxygen bars have also become popular in recent years, with the first ones appearing in the United States in the last 1990s, taking their cue from similar bars in Japan and China, and even South America. Urban hipsters quickly latched on to the idea of getting a “healthy” fix to keep them rejuvenated and energized, especially during a night out clubbing, and bars began appearing in clubs, kiosks, malls, and even on the street.
If the thought of paying cash to have something shoved up your nose appeals, this is the treatment for you. It works by using a special oxygen generator that provides clean oxygen to breathe in, which often is “flavored” by aromatherapy oils or food-grade particles. Patrons pay a per-minute fee to have a nasal cannula inserted into their nostril, through which they inhale the specially-scented medical-grade oxygen.
Imbibing an oxygen cocktail can be trendy and fun, but there is no scientific evidence to prove that oxygen cocktails are of anything but novelty value, although they have been proven in some cases to help alleviate both hangovers and migraines. However, oxygen bar fans believe that imbibing the oxygen can also help them alleviate stress and sinus problems, as well as give them renewed vim and vigor. But as our blood is already 99 percent saturated with oxygen, there is no evidence that the effect, if there is one, would last longer than a few minutes.
In addition, oxygen is technically termed a prescription drug in the USA, and oxygen cocktails are not FDA-approved, although individual states can choose to prosecute as they wish. So you are not only paying money for probably nothing, but are also breaking the law! Congratulations!
In some countries you can also buy “oxygen in a can” for recreational use, allowing healthy young people to walk around pretending they have emphysema. Another fun activity! Just don’t expect the product to take your breath away…
Risks
While oxygen facials and cocktails are usually seen as a bit of harmless fun, there are some proven medical risks associated with their use. Too much use of oxygen can increase the number of free radicals in your system, which over time can damage tissue. And breathing in aromatherapy oils means that small droplets can accumulate in the lungs, which could lead to a type of pneumonia. People with specific medical conditions such as emphysema should also stay away, as an excess of oxygen can reportedly cause them to stop breathing altogether.
The most common negative side-effect, however, is the damage that too imbibing much oxygen can do to your wallet, whether you choose to have weekly oxygen facials, visit oxygen bars daily or have frequent oxygen cocktails. Regular exercise, healthy eating and plenty of rest can have the same reported benefits which are promised by an oxygen bar. So get healthy – and save your cash for something a bit more worthwhile – and infinitely longer lasting.
