Glacial Rx is an FDA-cleared, in-office treatment that uses cooling technology called cryomodulation to remove age spots and other kinds of excess pigment. Glacial Rx treatments target specific spots of excess pigment, lightening them and suppressing new pigment production for a more even skin tone.
While heat-generating laser treatments feel like a snapping rubber band (even with numbing cream), Glacial Rx reportedly feels comfortable, relaxing, and refreshing. The cooling process also reduces redness and inflammation and speeds up exfoliation to reveal more radiant skin. You won’t need anesthesia, and the treatment has little to no downtime.
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Add-On: $75
A la Carte: $150
Add-On: $10 per shot
A la Carte: $20 per shot
First, you’ll lie down on a table and relax. Your provider won’t need to apply a topical anesthetic or numbing agent because the treatment’s cooling technology will help keep you comfortable.
Using the Glacial Rx handpiece, your provider gently applies a cold plate to each sunspot for 15 to 20 seconds. The cooling will reduce redness and puffiness as the device moves across your skin.
The process will take about 45 minutes, depending on how many age spots are treated.
During the treatment, your skin will be more receptive to topical skin care. Your provider will apply serums with brightening agents and antioxidants to help protect your skin and accelerate cell turnover. They may also recommend topical products to use at home to maximize and prolong your results.
In clinical trials, patients could return to normal activities immediately after treatment.
Age spots and splotches of excess pigment gradually start to lighten within a few days as cells turn over.
Within the first few weeks after your treatment, you may have some social downtime if multiple spots are treated in a conspicuous area like the face, with more microcrusting than usual. If that happens, let the crusts flake off naturally (resist the urge to pick, which could cause scarring).
You should see optimal results within two to six months. Using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and wearing wide-brimmed hats when you’re outside will help protect your skin from sun damage so that you’ll need fewer maintenance treatments.
While it’s a relatively new treatment, Glacial Rx has been shown to be safe. Only minor side effects were reported in clinical studies involving more than 600 participants. The most common were redness, temporary darkening of the treatment area, and “microcrusting,” all of which resolved on their own within a few days.