Do Migraine Masks Really Work?

Just a trend or does it really work?

Do Migraine Masks Really Work?

24.1.2023

Nothing puts you down for the count quite like a migraine attack. The pain can be so debilitating that all you can do is curl up in a dark room and wait for it to pass. And while there are a variety of drugs that can reduce pain and other migraine symptoms, they don’t work instaneously.

So it’s not surprising that any number of home remedies and over-the-counter products have been proposed to help deal with the pain of migraine.

What is a migraine mask?

Essentially, they're just wearable ice packs that you can freeze and slip on your head when a migraine attack occurs.

A huge benefit is that they can last up to 30 minutes ice cold due to the medical-grade gel sheets. Another benefit is that they usually cover the whole face, including the sinus and eye areas. This helps those who suffer from visual stimuli.

What Experts Are Saying About Migraine Masks?

Being able to throw on a hat and have quick pain relief sounds incredible — but how legit are these claims?

Cold therapy for migraine may work via various mechanisms, such as decreasing blood flow and swelling, and promoting analgesia. It also appears to reduce the body's demand for ATP, which research suggests plays a role in migraine attacks

Temporary Pain Relief

Samuel Kelokates, a physical therapist in Philadelphia who specializes in treating people with headache and migraine disorders, says there are two primary reasons cryotherapy (the fancy word for cold therapy used for medical purposes) works.

"Cold can cause vasoconstriction and decrease local swelling in the area of the head and face," Kelokates says. "Ice may also provide a local analgesic effect by decreasing nerve activity in the applied areas."

May Not Fully Stop the Migraine Attack

Kelokates agrees that cold caps could very well be used as a "pain control method" during migraine attacks. He also says some people might find that cold therapy is enough to stop attacks in its tracks.

"I like the use of the migraine mask as it covers more area than a traditional ice pack or head wrap, and can add some compression. It covers the forehead, temporal area, part of the face, and can even reach the base of the skull, which is important for those that have neck pain with attacks."

Who Should Try Migraine Masks?

Anyone who has ever experienced the pain of a migraine attack could benefit from using an ice pack hat. Similarly, people with frequent tension headaches or any type of chronic headache may also find relief from cold therapy.

Ice pack hats have no side effects unless you wear them too long. Prolonged exposure to cold can lead to ice burn, but this isn't super likely to happen, as cooling caps start to lose their cooling effect the moment you take them out of the freezer.