OXYGEN FACIAL
Red Carpet Service or Serious Skin Care Skin Inc. 2011
Craig Wenborg, D.C.
We hear about the Oxygen Facial being provided as a red carpet service, but is there more to it than that? The benefits of topical oxygen extend well beyond just the plump-me-up, blush-me-out, short term look good effect. Topical oxygen has its roots in serious skin care.
Chances are you are reading this article because you are in the skin care industry. As a skin care service provider, you offer service modalities as well as take home products. A healthy balance of service and retail, define an active balanced skin care practice.
Certain words evoke positive responses from our clients. Words such as rejuvenation, lift and youthful appearance, promote positive states of mind. The word “oxygen” has a high favorability rating. This high favorability rating is understood by businesses which incorporate the word oxygen into their name or promotion. Examples of using oxygen as a positive promotional word include television networks, health club names and magazine titles.
In skin care, oxygen not only has a high favorability rating, but also permeates the industry as a buzz word for healthy radiant skin. We can put this positive feel to work for us in our business, in several ways. For the remainder of this article, I will concentrate on the modality of Oxygen Facial.
OXYGEN 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. That dynamic balance can be shifted to either side of the availability equation. Oxygen facial shifts the equation towards oxygen from the outside.
So we purchase the nice happy birthday balloon. It floats but the next morning it is on the floor. 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 across the epidermis.
So how can we tell that this is actually happening? Blanch means to whiten. 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 results in blanching of the skin. Conditions such as rosacea respond favorably to topical oxygen for this very reason.
OXYGEN FACIAL EQUIPMENT
Providing higher numbers of oxygen molecules with greater then one atmosphere of pressure will require either an oxygen concentrator or tanked oxygen. Tanked oxygen is nice due to the ability to provide high concentration oxygen with pressure. Tanked oxygen has the drawback of being an explosion hazard as well as requiring filling and generally not being available to the esthetician.
Oxygen concentrators separate oxygen out of room air. To do this, room air is pressurized within a chamber filled with a natural porous rock called zeolite. Zeolite has pours which are the size of the nitrogen molecule. Room air is approximately 21% oxygen, 4% inert gas and the rest being nitrogen. When the chamber containing zeolite is pressurized, nitrogen is bound within the zeolite allowing oxygen to pass by. When the pressure is released from the chamber, nitrogen comes out of the zeolite and is discharged from the machine.
The oxygen facial concentrator is a hybrid from standard oxygen concentrators. Not any oxygen concentrator will do. Attached to the concentrator will be the application tool. This application tool requires pressure to do its job. The primary important element is to match the pressure needs of the application tool with the oxygen concentrator.
There are two types of application tools used on oxygen facial. The tools are the air brush and nebulizer. Fundamentally different methods of operation exist between these two devices. Air brushes apply a liquid solution through the use of pressurized oxygen to propel the liquid out of the air brush. Contact between the oxygen and the liquid only occurs in the form of back pressure.
I open that can of soda. Bubbles can be seen on the inside of the can. These bubbles represent carbon dioxide coming out of liquid suspension when pressure is released by opening the can. Water based liquids have the capacity of holding suspended gasses.
Nebulizers were developed for medical purposes with the goal in mind of spinning a liquid within the nebulizer in what is called a venture effect. When liquid is spun at a high rate of speed, oxygen is mixed with the liquid. The liquid becomes an oxygen carrying medium. When oxygen rich liquid is applied to the skin, suspended oxygen is released at the dermal level. Nebulizers create consistent micronized particles which are highly effective at penetrating the epidermis.
OXYGEN FACIAL SERUM
The history of topical oxygen began with oxygen rich mist utilizing sterile saline solution. Saline solution is biocompatible and provides a water base for the carrying of oxygen into the epidermis. With that in mind, Oxygen Facial formulations combine saline solution with ingredients to reduce free radicals, settle inflammation, reduce lines, reduce bacteria and hold moisture.
Hydrosol means water solution. Plant hydrosols are the clear essence of plants, released during steam distillation. Plant hydrosols contain all the natural molecules of the plant. Plant hydrosols are not a mixture of essential oil nor are they extracts created in the laboratory. Natural plant hydrosol molecules are very gentle to the skin. Hydrosol serums reduce inflammation, promote healing while providing antioxidants.
Plant hydrosols formulate well with hyaluronic acid and peptides. Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid binds and holds moisture in the skin. Moisture retention is important following chemical and mechanical exfoliation procedures. For aging skin, peptides are highly effective in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as relaxing facial muscles.
From saline base solution, plant hydrosol, peptide and moisture retaining molecules boost the benefits of oxygen and assist with epidermis penetration. Using these natural formulation concepts, applications are available for blemished skin, aging skin, antimicrobial effect and recovery following traumatic skin procedures.
BUSINESS OF OXYGEN FACIAL
The modality of Oxygen Facial represents a service to be offered in a medical and spa setting. In the spa setting, oxygen mist driven by oxygen concentrator is considered as a class one medical device. This service can be provided by an esthetician. In the medical setting, the use of tank oxygen is a class two medical procedure requiring physician supervision.
Oxygen Facial fits into your practice as a fee for service modality, often in conjunction with other services. I am often asked about protocols. These questions involve the ideas of when what and how much. This article is not sufficient to provide protocols for all the areas you will use Oxygen Facial but I will hit some of the primary applications.
MEDICAL OXYGEN FACIAL PROTOCALS
Oxygen following microdermabrasion
Following a microdermabrasion, skin is inflamed and irritated. Hyaluronic complex with carrot seed hydrosol helps the skin retain moisture while tightening blood vessels and reducing redness. Oxygen accelerates dermal collagen production through stimulation of metabolic processes. The combined antimicrobial effect of carrot seed hydrosol with oxygen, is highly desired when the outer protective layers of skin have been compromised.
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. Immediate post-surgery oxygen mist, provides 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.
Oxygen for acne
The stand alone oxygen facial is a service to be used by the esthetician for treatment of acne. Propionibacterium acnes are an anaerobic bacteria residing deep in the pore. This bacterium does not tolerate oxygen. Outbreaks drive your client to you for care. These clients present when they have episodes, treating several times until resolved. Penetrating to the depths of the pore, will require nebulized oxygen procedures. Advise clients that they may develop a comedone as bacteria are expelled from the pore.
Oxygen for rosacea
The rosacea client will develop flairs when under dietary or emotional stress. These clients will present for 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 healing of burns. The foundation of topical oxygen mist is sterile saline solution. Burn care begins with application of sterile saline oxygen mist directly to the injured tissue. Oxygen mist inhibits microbial action while promoting accelerated metabolic activity and healing. The gentile nature of nebulized oxygen makes this application the preferred method.
Oxygen and MRSA
Yet to be clinically explored is the treatment of methacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. I have personally administered to the treatment of two patients with this condition. Both were very positive outcomes. Further research into oxygen mist as a method of controlling this dangerous condition should be considered.
SPA DOLLARS
Oxygen Facial fits into the Spa business as a stand alone treatment or as a component of your Signature Service. Let’s take a look at two spas to see how they integrate the Oxygen Facial into their services.
Lapis, The Spa at Fontainebleau, offers oxygen as stand alone called Oxygen Restore. This service is promoted as a fifty minute oxygen treatment with facial massage to increase circulation and improve skin hydration. Oxygen Restore is a fee for service modality, billed at $140.00.
Lapis Spa offers the high end client, Tracie Martyn® Salon Services. Tracie Martyn is the authority to whom actors and actresses, music industry icons, members of royal families, media moguls and supermodels entrust their faces. The Tracie Martin Resculpting Facial®, is a collection of exclusive anti-aging services. Oxygen Facial is one component of this 75 minute $325.00 Signature Service.
Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong offers Oxygen Facial as a component of two of their spa treatments. Double Decadence includes massage, exfoliation, Oxygen Facial and lunch for two, at a price of $733.00. Also offered is the Essential Groom package which includes mineral pool, massage, manicure, pedicure and Oxygen Facial for a price of $426.00.
Red carpet service or serious skin care is the question asked by this article. In this article I have described the medical side of Oxygen Facial. I have outlined two Spas who are taking this service to new financial heights. Oxygen Facial represents a service modality which goes far beyond the red carpet and will place you at the
forefront of Spa dollars.
Dr. Craig Wenborg is the system developer of the Oxyvital Oxygen Facial Infusion™ System. As an active practitioner, he created and refined Oxygen Facial for medical and Spa application. Dr. Wenborg has written extensively on the subject of Oxygen Facial. His writings are used by many esthetics schools for the teaching of Oxygen Facial. He teaches the art and science of oxygen skin care at trade shows across the USA. Certification programs are available. Spa’s and Salon’s throughout the world, utilize Oxyvital equipment and Hydrosol Serums by Dr. Craig Wenborg for Oxygen Facial. He can be reached at
1-800-528-1026