{"id":410447,"date":"2026-01-13T17:24:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T17:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/410447\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T17:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T17:24:13","slug":"why-hyperbaric-oxygen-chambers-are-my-new-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/410447\/","title":{"rendered":"Why hyperbaric oxygen chambers are my new addiction"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my twenties I was a sunbed addict. Two or three times a week I\u2019d hit The Tanning Shop on my lunch break, strip off and step into the standing booth for a blast of heat and light (and a banging EDM soundtrack). I knew it was bad for my skin but I couldn\u2019t break the habit. For me, it wasn\u2019t just about the tan. I\u2019d slope in feeling tired and miserable, and emerge happy and energised. A colleague once asked if I was worried about cancer (melanoma rates have increased by 147 per cent in the UK since the early 1990s). My reply: \u201cI don\u2019t care, if it comes with a tan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now in my forties, having been through chemotherapy for breast cancer<\/a>, I\u2019m about as likely to be facetious about cancer as I am to set foot inside a tanning booth again. But I have a new addiction. I\u2019m booking regular sessions in a booth that helps me feel energised and makes my skin glow. I\u2019m talking about hyperbaric oxygen therapy<\/a> (HBOT).<\/p>\n

Gaining notoriety in the 1980s after Michael Jackson used it to treat burns from pyrotechnics on the set of a Pepsi commercial, HBOT was once considered something of an offbeat affectation. But last year the influential biohacker Bryan Johnson called it \u201cthe most efficacious whole body rejuvenation therapy I\u2019ve ever done\u201d, after his self-experiment showed reduced inflammation and improved microbiome and skin health.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Read more from Rosamund Dean<\/a><\/p>\n

While there are no official stats, UK estimates suggest the number of HBOT \u201cchambers\u201d has doubled over the past decade and will continue to grow. The surge in popularity is partly down to celebrity endorsements on social media, from Justin Bieber to Kendall Jenner. But in 2026 HBOT is not just for pop stars and tech bros; chambers are popping up in salons, spas and gyms from Aberdeen to Southampton. Groupon huns are even getting discounts on HBOT alongside their spa days and afternoon teas.<\/p>\n

So how does it work? You sit in a pressurised chamber that may also have higher levels of oxygen than normal \u2014 both of which help the body to absorb more oxygen and deliver it to tissues. Jane Beaman, cofounder of Sciene wellness clinic in north London, says: \u201cIt can help to clear old, damaged cells and boost immunity, while promoting healing.\u201d She refutes the idea that HBOT is just for longevity fanatics. \u201cIt\u2019s not about living for ever, it\u2019s about living better and feeling good for longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not all hyperbaric oxygen chambers are created equal, though. The soft-shell ones are like a large bag into which you are zipped (yes, similar to a body bag \u2014 not for the claustrophobic). They are porous, so you wear an oxygen mask. The hard-shell ones feel a bit less CSI. You step into a rigid booth that seals shut, no mask required. Beaman\u2019s clinic has a Japanese AirPod chamber, and clients have included those who are post-surgery and a motocross rider with a shoulder injury. \u201cIt also stimulates collagen production,\u201d she says, \u201cwhich is obviously great for your skin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022 IV drips and hyperbaric chambers help Soho House tap wellness boom<\/a><\/p>\n

For those who are not recovering from surgery or an injury, the benefits go far beyond aesthetics. You may have heard of mitochondria, sometimes described as the \u201cbattery\u201d of your cells \u2014 think of HBOT as the charger. Giving your cells more energy and improving their functionality supports your entire body. There are reported benefits for brain health, with some saying it works wonders for anxiety, brain fog and even long Covid \u2014 though the science behind this is, as they say in the wellness game, \u201cemerging\u201d (ie, not yet proven). The evidence is strongest for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties, and HBOT is used by the NHS to treat decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning and severe soft tissue infections. However, funding cuts mean NHS access has reduced, while access in private clinics, gyms and spas has risen.<\/p>\n

At Sciene you can book 30, 60 or 90-minute sessions in the AirPod, and either use the time productively (yes, you can take your laptop in) or recline on the chair for a nap. Important to know: the AirPod uses atmospheric oxygen not pure oxygen. With high oxygen chambers electrical devices are banned as the smallest spark could cause a fire, and there have been some tragic incidents in America where improper use has led to death.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Dylan Hartley: I\u2019m having hyperbaric therapy for my brain<\/a><\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

The pressure can be quite intense. It feels like being on a landing aeroplane and you may have to regulate your ears. A reputable provider will turn you away if you have an ear infection or blocked sinuses.<\/p>\n

At the moment, depending on location and the type of chamber (soft shells are cheaper), expect to pay between \u00a340 and \u00a3120 an hour (Sciene offers five 30-minute sessions for \u00a3260, sciene.co.uk). \u201cIt\u2019s not cheap,\u201d Beaman says. \u201cBut as accessibility improves, which it is and fast, the price will drop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just as with my cherished sunbeds, I can pop in on my lunch break, although consistency is key. So while my bank balance doesn\u2019t stretch to hitting the hyperbaric oxygen chamber quite as often as I used to hit the sunbed, instead of paying to accelerate ageing in the name of a glow, now I pay to reverse it in the name of longevity (and also a glow). I still emerge flushed, slightly light-headed and convinced my life has improved in under an hour \u2014 only now it actually might have. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In my twenties I was a sunbed addict. Two or three times a week I\u2019d hit The Tanning…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":410448,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[64,63,137,490],"class_list":{"0":"post-410447","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-medication"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410447"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410447\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/410448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}