how long should a cold compress be used?
Remove the cold compress after 20 minutes to prevent the skin from becoming frostbitten. When used for swelling, reapply a cold compress after 2 hours. Alternate 20 minutes with the compress with 2 hours without the compress for 3 days or until the swelling completely subsides. For ocular allergies use the compresses on an as needed basis for symptomatic relief.