Doctors shocked at extreme new aesthetics craze that sends cancer risk soaring

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

Experts have sounded the alarm over a dangerous new cosmetic trend that involves altering the skin and hair using a freezing cold iron.
The bizarre craze, which permanently marks the body and hair colour using liquid nitrogen, can raise the risk of skin cancer, according to British experts.
This is because the extreme cold kills cells in the skin that are vital for protecting against the deadliest form of the disease, melanoma.
Other risks include infection, frostbite and the loss of fingers or limbs, warned Professor Adam Taylor, an expert in anatomy from Lancaster University.
'It can take as little as 20 seconds for liquid nitrogen to cause second, third and even fourth degree burns,' he wrote for The Conversation.
This technique, which is also thought to turn the hair white due to the effect of freezing temperatures on pigmentation, was initially invented by farmers to mark animals for identification.
However, horses and cattle have skin between two to four times thicker than humans making them less vulnerable to damage, according to Prof Taylor.
'There are strict safety protocols for branding animals. There are zero for humans. And in the UK, it's illegal to brand people—whether with heat or cold,' he added.
Worryingly, comments shared on Reddit reveal that some are attracted to the technique in order to change their hair colour.
'Will freeze branding turn my hair white?' wrote one user.
'This is a technique used on farm mammals such as horses, cows, and goats. On pigmented areas the hair grows back white.
'I have found no research or examples of freeze branding on human scalp though I believe that it would have the same effect.
'Does anyone have more insight on this?'
Prof Taylor explained exactly how so-called 'freeze branding' could increase the risk of cancer.
The extreme cold causes ice crystals to form inside skin cells and as the water inside the cells freezes, it expands and breaks the cells' walls.
This kills the melanocyte cells, stopping them from producing melanin that gives your skin hair and colour.
These melanocyte cells play an integral role in protecting the body against skin cancer.
When you are exposed to sunlight or UV rays, the cells produce more melanin to protect your skin.
This helps form a protective shield around your DNA to help prevent damage from harmful rays.
In the UK, there are around 2,300 melanoma skin cancer deaths and 17,500 new cases recorded every year.
There could be other serious implications from losing melanocytes as we don't know all the long-term risks, the expert said.
He also flagged the risk of dehydration, which happens because your body loses fluid while trying to heal from trauma.
Skin branding is regularly featured in the hit Paramount western show, Yellowstone, which centres around a family-owned cattle ranch in Montana, and follows the dramas that ensue.
In the show, characters can be seen being 'branded' by the ranch with a permanent burn—achieved by pressing a red-hot iron pressed into their flesh.
This is a mark of their loyalty to the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.
Body modification is an increasingly popular trend in the UK and US.
The cosmetic craze involves changing the appearence of the face and body using extreme techniques such as multiple piercings and tattoos.