It’s nothing new that people stick needles in their faces as part of their wellness and beauty regimen.
While treatments like microneedling may have gained huge popularity in recent years, ancient chinese medicine has used acupuncture therapy to relieve the symptoms of a variety of illnesses (including skin) for over 2000 years.
It strives to provide the optimal state of health to the body by balancing the “Qi” (pronounced chi) within the human body.
When the yin and yang aspects harmoniously interact, the energy of “Qi” is said to be balanced.
It’s believed (though scientific evidence for the theory is lacking) that if one overpowers the other, there will be health complications.
Research has proven that acupuncture is effective in alleviating symptoms for many different types of ailments.
The benefits of acupuncture have been known to address quite a few conditions and symptoms, including chronic pain issues.
The face is a common indicator of aging.
Facial Acupuncture is a painless way to reduce the appearance of wrinkles as it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin fibers and as a result it has been shown to reduce the signs of aging and improve the appearance of the skin.
Throughout this article, you will learn about the different types of facial acupuncture and the benefits that are associated with each.
What to Expect During Facial Acupuncture
Wondering what to expect when you undergo facial acupuncture treatments?
From how facial acupuncture feels to how many sessions you’re likely to need, here’s everything you need to know before getting it.
An array of benefits are attributed to facial acupuncture, including improved skin texture, acne and fine line reduction.
You may find that facial acupuncture is an effective, yet minimally invasive anti-aging treatment.
Acupuncture sessions are very similar, regardless of whether you are dealing with anxiety, physical pain, or cosmetic issues.
Needles are positioned differently in different cases, which will make a big difference.
In facial acupuncture, needles are inserted into the face, hairline, and neck of a patient while they are lying on their backs.
Numerous acupressure points are scattered throughout our bodies, so the points that are targeted vary depending on the condition being treated.
An average treatment session lasts 30 to 45 minutes. Before your treatments, you need not prepare anything, and you can get back to normal activity right afterward.
Following each session, it is recommended to drink a lot of water to aid in flushing out any toxins.
What Is Facial Acupuncture?
Facial Acupuncture involves gently placing tiny needles along predetermined acupressure points, which work with the tissues such as ligaments, muscles, and nerves.
In this way, your body’s healing responses are stimulated by effectively relaxing the muscles, releasing tension, and balancing your emotions.
Acupuncture quickly gained popularity in the United States after making its way here in 1971.
From muscle pain to headaches, acupuncture became a largely utilised alternative treatment.
The benefits of facial acupuncture in terms of health, wellness, and beauty are numerous.
The name comes from the fact that it just focuses on the face, neck, and hairline.
An essential aspect of facial acupuncture is the use of positive microtraumas to stimulate the production of collagen and improve blood flow.
Benefits Of Facial Acupuncture
Now let’s look at an array of benefits that facial acupuncture comes with. Here are 8 Reasons to Try Facial Acupuncture:
1. Helps Treat Acne
Acne can be treated topically as well as internally with facial acupuncture.
It is sometimes a sign that your body is in a stressed, unbalanced state, and acupuncture is able to treat these conditions by stimulating the meridian points that are linked to your organs-giving you more lasting results.
Acne scars or breakouts can also be treated with acupuncture needles to improve the flow of blood and help increase healing in those areas.
2. Improves Skin’s Elasticity
The stress, worry, and anger we experience in our lives have an impact on our body over time.
You will start to see lines on your face, your skin will become saggy, and it won’t be as tight as it was.
Facial acupuncture improves not only collagen production but also elastin production to reduce wrinkles and firm the skin.
3. Reduction in Sun Damage
Collagen is destroyed by factors such as smoking, lack of hydration, stress, and most importantly, long-term sun exposure.
As collagen in our skin begins to diminish with such factors, discolorations caused by sun damage become more noticeable.
As needles are foreign objects to the body, the body’s natural healing process kicks into gear, causing collagen to be produced and increasing circulation, which fills out the sun damage marks and fades them.
4. Anti-Aging
There are other factors that can cause a person to look older than they are; sagging on the cheeks and puffiness under the eyes are not the only ones to consider.
Botox is often thought of as a treatment to reverse the signs of aging, but acupuncture works by getting the body to function properly again instead of freezing it.
An acupuncture needle induces “positive micro-traumas” on your body, which allows your body to begin the healing process.
As with micro-needling, acupuncture targets specific points instead of using many needles to get brighter, anti-aging results.
The results of facial acupuncture, however, do not appear as fast as cosmetic procedures and you might need to attend regular sessions.
5. Enhances Skin Tone
Stress, pollution, and the environmental factors wreak havoc on the skin’s complexion.
With its needles, facial acupuncture stimulates circulation and the body’s self-repair mechanisms, making it an impressive multifaceted treatment.
An increase in circulation leads to a more toned complexion and a decrease in cellular waste, nourishing the skin and encouraging detoxification.
6. Aids Collagen Production
Collagen is a protein fiber that keeps skin, joints, ligaments, arteries, and eyes hydrated, all while protecting them from age-related damage.
Our bodies contain 70% of their collagen in the skin, which begins degenerating as we age, beginning in mid-twenties.
The first sign of aging on your face is often due to a reduction of collagen.
Facial acupuncture aids in the stimulation of collagen production, which is why it is beneficial for facial skin.
7. Reduces Redness
Traditional Medicine attributes redness to internal imbalances such as digestive problems or hormonal problems.
Through facial acupuncture, the muscles in the face are toned and improved so that you look better, and the increased blood flow reduces redness.
8. Enhances Skin’s Glow
Getting acupuncture on a regular basis promotes general health and decreases stress, which plays a huge role in how well-rested and balanced your body feels.
Your skin is nourished from the inside out when your body is properly balanced and nourished with the right dose of nutrients and oxygen.
Acupuncture needle points help eliminate toxins, promote skin glow, and stimulate lymphatic and circulatory systems.
Apart from the above, facial acupuncture has following unpopular benefits as well:
- Reduction of eye wrinkles
- Reduction in pores
- Tightens the skin
- Reduces Acne Scarring
- Overall skin rejuvenation
- Hydrates the skin and increases oil levels in the skin
- Hyperpigmentation is reduced
Risks And Side Effects Of Facial Acupuncture
There are normally some side effects associated with acupuncture, but these are completely normal and usually go away quickly.
You may experience soreness, bruising, slight pain and redness during the healing period as well.
Acupuncture for the face as well as for the body does, however, have significant risks.
The first thing you should do before you consider acupuncture therapy is to talk with a medical professional, since certain medical conditions may interfere with its effectiveness.
You should not go for acupuncture, if you have the following conditions:
- Diabetic patients (especially type 2 diabetes) should avoid acupuncture because the needles will cause bruising that takes longer to heal.
- If you have a pacemaker it makes acupuncture more dangerous because some forms of acupuncture now involve sending electrical signals through needles to the body. It is a risk that one should not take since these impulses might alter the pacemaker’s performance.
- Pregnant women should not undergo acupuncture, as it can cause premature labor.
- Those with bleeding disorders, such as those on blood thinners, will be more likely to bleed and bruise more aggressively.
All of these situations should stress the importance of seeing a medical professional who is well-versed in your medical history, as well as familiar with your preferred treatment mode.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate for Facial Acupuncture?
Face acupuncture has minimal side effects, which makes it a suitable treatment for most people.
Facial acupuncture might be the right choice if you are seeking any of the benefits mentioned above.
People with any of the conditions/ experiences mentioned in the risk section above should avoid all forms of acupuncture.