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Health

How Do I Choose the Best Face Ice Pack?

By Bethany Keene
Updated May 17, 2024
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To choose the best face ice pack, you will want to consider one that is soft and slightly form fitting, rather than a hard ice pack that will not be able to conform to the contours of your face. A gel pack is often the best choice for a face ice pack because it is gentle and conforms to the face. In addition, you may be able to purchase a face-shaped ice pack for a specific injury, or a doctor may be able to provide one after surgery.

Using cold therapy can be an effective way to treat an injury or to reduce swelling following surgery, and a face ice pack is designed specifically to address such problems on the face. There are a few important things to keep in mind, however. First, it is important to only leave the ice pack on for a few minutes at a time; experts usually recommend no more than ten minutes. Then take it off for a few minutes to give the skin a break and to prevent causing even more damage, like frostbite. In addition, it is best to cover the ice pack in cloth, such as a paper towel or dish towel, so that the coldness is not placed directly against the skin; some models may even come with fitted cloth covers for this purpose.

Some face ice packs are designed to be slightly insulated, to regulate the temperature and prevent placing a freezing ice pack on the skin, since the skin of the face can be more delicate than the rest of the body. Otherwise, it is fairly simple to choose a face ice pack, which may be purchased in stores or online, or obtained from a doctor or hospital. Gel ice packs are some of the most popular because they freeze quickly and are more comfortable to place on the skin, though some ice packs may just need to be filled with ice each time they are used.

This type of face ice pack can be beneficial because it can be used immediately, as needed and as long as you have ice on hand, but it can also be slightly painful to apply to an injury. This kind of ice pack can be better for an injury on the arms or legs, for example, where it might not be as sensitive. Remember to wash an ice pack after use to keep it clean and sanitary to prevent introducing any bacteria to an injury, particularly post surgery.

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Discussion Comments

By ddljohn — On Dec 30, 2013

I think that a good old ice bag works just fine. Every summer, I manage to develop heat exhaustion at least once because I work outside. An ice bag is all that I've ever used. I've been using the same one for the past ten years.

By SteamLouis — On Dec 29, 2013

@donasmrs-- I use reusable gel ice packs for sore muscles all the time. It works great. You should get one that comes with a cloth fabric because when you remove it from the freezer, it will be very cold. But you don't have to deal with melting ice, so it's much easier to use.

If you generally apply an ice pack on your forehead or around your eyes, you can also get a gel eye mask. It's basically a gel cold pack in the shape of an eye mask. You can refrigerate it and then put it over your eyes. My sister uses one for headaches and loves it.

By donasmrs — On Dec 28, 2013

I'm in menopause and frequently experience hot flashes, as well as migraines. An ice pack seems to help and I've been using one daily for the past two weeks. I'm not happy with it though because it drips water as it warms up and I have to put a cloth around it because it's too cold to apply to my forehead.

I'm thinking about getting a reusable gel ice pack but do those have the same issues? How long does a gel ice pack generally last for?

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