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If you\u2019re a fan of the TV show\u00a0Yellowstone<\/a>, you\u2019ll know the deal \u2013 you earn your place on the ranch by being branded. On the show, this means having a red-hot iron pressed into your flesh, leaving a permanent scar of loyalty to Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and its patriarch, John Dutton.<\/p>\n In life imitating art, people are getting themselves branded, but instead of using heat, they are using freeze branding. The branding iron is cooled using dry ice, isopropyl alcohol or liquid nitrogen, and then pressed against the skin to leave a permanent mark.<\/p>\n In 1966, Dr R. Keith Farrell at Washington State University developed freeze branding (also known as CryoBranding) as a less painful way to mark animals for identification. Aside from being less painful, it also produces less scarring than hot branding.<\/p>\n Cattle skin is much thicker than human skin and can take more punishment. Scratches that would cause pain and bleeding in humans would barely mark the surface of cattle. Horse and cattle skin is anywhere\u00a0between<\/a>\u00a0two and four times thicker than human skin<\/a>.<\/p>\n When a person is freeze branded, the super cold causes ice crystals to form inside skin cells. As the water inside the cells freezes, it expands and\u00a0breaks<\/a>\u00a0the cells\u2019 walls. This kills the cells and stops them from making melanin, the pigment that gives your skin and hair colour.<\/p>\n Because of the relative thinness of human skin (2mm), it\u2019s more likely to get badly burned from extreme cold. It can take as little as 20 seconds for liquid nitrogen to cause\u00a0second<\/a>,\u00a0third<\/a>\u00a0and even\u00a0fourth degree burns<\/a>.<\/p>\n These burns can lead to serious problems, such as infection, frostbite or even loss of fingers or limbs.<\/p>\n Second, third and fourth degree burns can go deep enough to damage muscles, tendons and even bones. As these deeper tissues heal, scarring can form and cause long-term problems called\u00a0contractures<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a medical condition in which muscles, tendons or other soft tissues permanently tighten or shorten, causing restricted movement.<\/p>\n This is a bigger risk if the branding is done near the arms or legs, and it might need physiotherapy or even\u00a0surgery<\/a>\u00a0to fix.<\/p>\n Like any serious burn, freeze-branding also increases the\u00a0risk of dehydration<\/a>. That\u2019s because burns damage the skin\u2019s protective barrier, and your body loses fluid while trying to heal from the trauma.<\/p>\n Freeze branding human skin is a bad idea. #skincare<\/a> #cryobranding<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MFjlvD7Cnr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Health Organica (@HealthOrganica_) April 2, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n