5 Reasons Why Facial Acupuncture is the Next Big Thing in Anti-Aging
You’ve likely heard of facial acupuncture in the skincare and beauty industry along with buzzwords such as facial cupping, gua sha, microneedling and cosmetic acupuncture in the skin care and beauty space. What often isn’t advertised (and should be) is that they are all drenched in tradition and have been used for over 2,000 years in Chinese medicine. Recently, all these modalities, including facial acupuncture, have gained in popularity and for good reason.
What is Facial Acupuncture?
Facial acupuncture, or cosmetic acupuncture, is a form of acupuncture (clue’s in the name), which is a modality of Chinese medicine. It has been used for over 2,000 years to treat a wide range of health conditions. In recent years, facial acupuncture has gained in popularity as a non-invasive anti-aging treatment, as it is known to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging.
It is a holistic treatment that aims to improve the health and appearance of the skin by addressing the underlying causes of aging. It can improve blood flow to the face, stimulate collagen production, balance hormones and address the root causes of aging, such as stress and poor diet. It is also non-invasive and has minimal downtime.
As more of us are on a quest for natural and non-invasive ways to improve their skin and reduce the signs of aging, facial acupuncture is growing in popularity. It’s quickly becoming the go-to for many of us who want to have a youthful and radiant complexion without the need for harsh chemicals, surgery or invasive procedures.
The Five Reasons Facial Acupuncture is Considered The Next Best Thing in Anti-Aging
Non-Invasive
Obviously, facial acupuncture requires the use of tiny facial acupuncture needles being gently inserted into your face. But before that puts you off, they are so small and about as thin as a strand of hair. Facial acupuncture is considered a non-invasive way to achieve a glowing complexion. Procedures such as Botox and fillers involve injecting chemicals or substances into the skin to change its appearance, whereas acupuncture is completely natural and does not involve injecting any substances into the skin. It simply involves the insertion of tiny needles into specific points on the face. These needles stimulate the body’s natural healing processes to improve the health and appearance of the skin.
One of the main benefits of a non-invasive treatment such as facial acupuncture, is that there is minimal downtime. There may be some mild redness after a treatment, but this typically disappears within a few hours. Facial acupuncture is also considered a very safe treatment, with few reported side effects.
2. Stimulates Collagen Production
Facial acupuncture stimulates collagen production, which is a protein naturally found in the skin and helps to plump and firm it. Unfortunately, collagen production tends to decrease as we age, which leads to wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin - what a treat! Facial acupuncture increases blood flow to the face and activates fibroblasts, which are the cells responsible for producing collagen. By doing so, the insertion of facial acupuncture needles stimulates collagen production in the face and improves the overall health of the skin.
3. Improves Blood Flow
By improving blood flow to the face, facial acupuncture nourishes and oxygenates the skin. Facial acupuncture needles stimulate the body’s natural healing processes, including the flow of blood to the face. All this juicy blood flow brings with it oxygen, nutrients and everything the skin needs to replenish and glow. This helps to improve the overall health and appearance of the skin, resulting in a brighter complexion and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles - win!
4. Balances Hormones
Facial acupuncture, as a form of acupuncture, can also help to balance hormones, which can have a positive effect on the skin. Hormone imbalances can cause a variety of skin problems such as acne, rosacea and eczema, as well as contribute to the aging process. Acupuncture regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is a complex communication system between the brain and the endocrine system. The HPA axis is responsible for the body’s response to stress, which can affect hormone levels. Acupuncture stimulates the release of neurotransmitters and hormones, such as endorphins, which can help balance the HPA axis and reduce stress.
5. Facial Acupuncture Addresses The Root Cause
Facial acupuncture addresses the root cause of aging, rather than just treating the symptoms whereas traditional cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers only treat the symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines, but do not address the underlying causes. Cosmetic acupuncture does this by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. As we’ve seen above, it increases blood flow to the face, which nourishes and oxygenates the skin, improves collagen production, which plumps and firms the skin and balances hormones, which can help to reduce acne, rosacea and other skin problems. On top of that, facial acupuncture also addresses the root cause of aging by addressing lifestyle factors such as stress that contribute to the aging process.
Facial Acupuncture: The Natural Anti-Aging Solution
So as you can see, facial acupuncture is taking the beauty and wellness industry by storm, and for good reason.
It is important to note that as a holistic practice, facial acupuncture aims to improve the health and appearance of the skin by addressing the underlying causes of aging, so the practitioner will determine the best points to target depending on the individual’s needs.
Our acupuncturist, Katherine, creates a custom plan for each individual and every session includes body points to ensure a whole and holistic treatment. Each full facial acupuncture treatment includes facial cupping, gua sha, body points and LED light therapy, which itself penetrates the skin and stimulates the body’s natural healing processes.
The number of facial acupuncture treatments recommended and the frequency of treatment will vary depending on the individual’s specific needs and goals. In general, a course of facial acupuncture treatments is typically recommended for optimal results.
A typical course of treatments may consist of 10-12 sessions, with each session lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. Treatments are usually spaced a week apart (noting that menstruating patients may be more sensitive during the week of their period so may want to avoid that week), however Katherine will determine the best course of treatment based on your own needs.
After the initial course of treatments, we recommend maintaining the results with regular follow-up treatments. The frequency of follow-up treatments will depend on the individual’s skin concerns and goals.
Remember that facial acupuncture is a holistic treatment that addresses the underlying causes of aging and so it is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and skincare routine (including daily SPF!) to support the results of the treatment.
Please note that facial acupuncture is not recommended in areas that have received botox in the last 10 weeks or during pregnancy.
BONUS: facial acupuncture is covered under most health benefit plans!