Initially, you should stay away from heat after a massage, here's why. Although using a massage gun helps in releasing tight muscles. A lot of deep muscle therapy is required to release those trigger points and tension. This can, therefore, leave your muscles quite tender. Hence, you can start with cryotherapy or use ice after a massage. If you apply ice directly on the skin then it can damage the tissues or even lead to frostbite. The same thing implies if you apply ice for too long. The following tips will guide you through the usage of ice after a massage: You can apply ice 4-6 times a day but not for more than 20 minutes. Don't apply the ice directly to the skin. Wrap it in a cloth towel so that there's always a layer between you and the ice itself.