Go with the Flow
We discover the latest innovative technology for intimate health – Caress Flow
As women across the world start using their voices to call for improved healthcare, particularly in the area of sexual and reproductive health, and with many aesthetic device manufacturers also offering technology for vulval and vaginal rejuvenation, we have seen the market for intimate health treatments within aesthetics expand significantly.
What once was dismissed as vanity – “the designer vagina” – has now become more widely accepted and talked about. We now know that these treatments can offer life-changing results for women suffering from a range of concerns, from vaginal atrophy and painful sex to bladder weakness and dryness.
However, treatments for vaginal health issues often involve invasive procedures like lasers or radiofrequency treatments, which can be painful and require downtime for recovery.
This is why the UK launch of Caress Flow, a groundbreaking treatment that promises to transform the management of vaginal pathologies, is causing a stir.
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What is Caress Flow?
Caress Flow claims to offer a painless alternative that does not require any post-procedure downtime. This is particularly beneficial for patients who are looking for less disruptive forms of treatment.
The innovative therapy offers a holistic, painless solution to a range of vaginal symptoms, with clinical evidence demonstrating significant benefits, including for breast cancer survivors.
Unlike traditional methods such as lasers or radiofrequency, Caress Flow utilises a unique combination of oxygen and hyaluronic acid to rejuvenate and heal vaginal tissues naturally. This method promotes tissue regeneration, improves elasticity, and enhances overall vaginal health without the need for harsh chemicals or painful procedures.
Scientific rationale
Topical oxygen therapy is a cosmetic procedure that is becoming popular in skin treatment and other medical applications. Oxygen therapy is not a recent innovation in the medical field; other techniques of oxygen therapy, such as hyperbaric oxygen treatments, are widely used in the treatment of other skin diseases, including wound healing, burns, skin grafts, and others.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was also proposed as a skin rejuvenation and antiaging treatment. Oxygen therapy has a powerful regenerative, antibacterial and stimulating effect, increases the availability of oxygen to the tissues, promotes the increase in tissue repair processes and increases the synthesis of collagen, allowing normal hydroxylation of this protein. In fact, at tissue oxygen tensions lower than normal, collagen is not synthesised correctly, slowing the healing of ulcers and wounds. In addition, oxygen induces a neo-angiogenic stimulus by releasing factors such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). This function is essential for the restoration of the microcirculation in compromised vascular situations, re-establishing a vascular flow in the hypoxic areas that guarantees correct tissue regeneration.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural polysaccharide that forms a fundamental part of the extracellular matrix of the skin and cartilage. Hyaluronic acid has remarkable adhesive, moisturising and reparative properties of the vaginal mucosa.
Because of these properties, the synergistic association of high-concentration oxygen and hyaluronic acid has been shown to have therapeutic effects in diseases involving tissue regeneration problems, including many gynaecological diseases.1-11
Indications
It is designed to address six prevalent vaginal conditions:
- Vulvo-vaginal atrophy – 85% decreased burning and 81% increased fluidity
- Urinary incontinence – 81% reduction of incontinence
- Recurrent candidiasis – 94% absence of recurrent candidiasis after three months and 83% absence of the current candidiasis after six months
- Urethral burn – 82% decreased burning
- Vestibulitis – 79% decreased itching and 79% reduction of injuries
- Lichen sclerosis – 83% pain relief and 83% decreased itching.
By providing a non-hormonal, natural alternative, Caress Flow eliminates the need for ongoing use of vaginal creams, offering a simpler, more effective solution for women. Affordable and accessible In addition to its clinical efficacy, Caress Flow is also an affordable treatment option, making it accessible to a wider audience.
With lower costs compared to traditional laser and radiofrequency treatments and without the need for follow-up creams or additional procedures, Caress Flow is poised to become the go-to solution for women seeking effective and economical care.
Clinically proven benefits for breast cancer patients
A recent study published in the Climacteric Journal11 has also shown the effectiveness of Caress Flow in treating genito-urinary symptoms among breast cancer survivors.
The study demonstrated that after five treatments, patients experienced a substantial improvement in vaginal health, with 85% of participants reporting reduced pain and increased comfort during intercourse. These results remained consistent even 30 days after the last treatment, making Caress Flow a reliable option for long-term relief.
References
1. Origoni M, Cimmino C, Carminati G, Iachini E, Stefani C, Girardelli S, Salvatore S, Candiani M. Postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is positively improved by topical hyaluronic acid application. A prospective, observational study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016 Oct;20(20):4190-4195. PMID: 27831658
2. Jokar A, Davari T, Asadi N, Ahmadi F, Foruhari S. Comparison of the Hyaluronic Acid Vaginal Cream and Conjugated Estrogen Used in Treatment of Vaginal Atrophy of Menopause Women: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery. 2016 Jan;4(1):69-78. PMID: 26793732; PMCID: PMC4709811.
3. Costantino D, Guaraldi C. Effectiveness and safety of vaginal suppositories for the treatment of the vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: an open, non-controlled clinical trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2008 Nov-Dec;12(6):411-6. PMID: 19146203.
4. Gordillo GM, Roy S, Khanna S, Schlanger R, Khandelwal S, Phillips G, Sen CK. Topical oxygen therapy induces vascular endothelial growth factor expression and improves closure of clinically presented chronic wounds. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2008 Aug;35(8):957-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2008.04934.x. Epub 2008 Apr 21. PMID: 18430064; PMCID: PMC2574754.
5. Kellar RS, Audet RG, Roe DF, Rheins LA, Draelos ZD. Topically delivered dissolved oxygen reduces inflammation and positively influences structural proteins in healthy intact human skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2013 Jun;12(2):86-95. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12039. PMID: 23725301.
6. Roe DF, Gibbins BL, Ladizinsky DA. Topical dissolved oxygen penetrates skin: model and method. J Surg Res. 2010 Mar;159(1):e29-36. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2009.10.039. Epub 2009 Nov 21. PMID: 20097370.
7. Condemi L, Di Giuseppe J, Delli Carpini G, Garoia F, Frega A, Ciavattini A. Vaginal natural oxygenation device (VNOD) for concomitant administration of hyaluronic acid and topical hyperbaric oxygen to treat vulvo-vaginal atrophy: a pilot study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2018 Dec;22(23):8480-8486. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_201812_16548. PMID: 30556890.
8. https://www.presurgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Relapsing-Candidiasis.pdf
9. https://www.presurgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Lichen-Sclerosus-2021.pdf#:~:text=The%20airbrush%20is%20used%20for,(w%20%2F%20v)%20solution.
10. https://www.presurgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Urethral-Syndrome.pdf#:~:text=five%20minutes%20of%20oxygen%20therapy,therapy%20combined%20with%20hyaluronic%20acid.&text=Patients%20are%20taught%20home%20behavior,nutrition%2C%20indications%20for%20sexual%20intercourse.
11. C. Massarotti, G. Asinaro, M. G. Schiaffino, C. Ronzini, I. Vacca, M. Lambertini, P. Anserini, L. Del Mastro & A. Cagnacci (2023): Vaginal oxygen plus hyaluronic acid on genitourinary symptoms of breast cancer survivors, Climacteric, DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2023.2167596. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2023.2167596