How your face changes with aging?

Face changes when people grow older. This change starts as early as in 30’s year old. This change not only happens on the surface of the skin, but also underneath the skin surface such as fat, muscle and bone etc. Loss fat volume and muscle mass on the face makes the face loss its fullness. Fat pulls downwards and the skin becomes loose and sagging due to gravity and muscle force. Bone also losses its mass and muscles are shortened and straightened. Corners of the eyes and mouth droop, tip of the nose droops as well and ears become longer. Of course, wrinkles, various spots and pigmentation appear on the face.

Environmental factors can speed up aging process: such as hormonal imbalance, sun exposure, smoking, stress, diet, diseases etc. This makes people look older than their age.

Acupuncture has anti-aging effect and rejuvenates your face. All my patients with facial acupuncture love it.

Skin aging, skin blood flow and facial acupuncture

Skin blood flow significantly decreased with increase in age. Skin blood flow is 40% less at age 65 than at age 25. This is because skin blood flow decreases with decreased pumping blood from heart; skin blood flow significantly decreased with increase in total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure; less blood is redirected to the skin from other part of the body; blood vessel movement is impaired with aging and blood vessels are not relaxed to increase the blood flow.

Acupuncture increases blood perfusion and reduces skin aging

Recent years researchers are trying to find how acupuncture works from a scientific aspect. Many research data suggested that acupuncture improves blood perfusion. For example, there was a study of acupuncture on 140 healthy volunteers. In this study, acupuncture was applied in LI4’ skin blood flow was measured using a Moor full-field laser perfusion imager before and after acupuncture stimulation. Recently study has shown that stimulating LI4 also increased facial blood flow and hand blood flow. After acupuncture of the right LI4 acupuncture the change ratio of mean blood flux in the left LI4 was increased significantly compared with the control group 60 minutes after acupuncture stimulation. Another study has shown that acupuncture at LI4 and LI11 increased blood circulation along the meridian. Study at ST36 point also has suggested increased skin blood perfusion around the acupuncture point in healthy subjects. In 22 healthy volunteers acupuncture at PC6 point increased microcirculation blood perfusion units along the meridian. Increased blood circulation was also seen at the back acupuncture point study. This also demonstrated in some conditions For example, in a study patients with dysmenorrhea were treated with acupuncture. After 10 sessions of acupuncture treatment, microcirculation was increased and the symptom scores, pain index, and visual analog scale decreased significantly in treatment group.

References
Tsuchida Y J Dermatol Sci (1993) 5:175-81

Acupuncture can help to reduce skin aging

Skin blood flow significantly decreased with increase in age. Skin blood flow is 40% less at age 65 than at age 25. This is because skin blood flow decreases with decreased pumping blood from heart; skin blood flow significantly decreased with increase in total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure; less blood is redirected to the skin from other part of the body; blood vessel movement is impaired with aging and blood vessels are not relaxed to increase the blood flow.

Acupuncture increases blood perfusion and reduces skin aging

Acupuncture is used to treat many conditions in China. Its mechanism is based on meridian theory which is not accepted by Western medicine theory. Recent years researchers are trying to find how acupuncture works from a scientific aspect. Many research data suggested that acupuncture improves blood perfusion. For example, there was a study of acupuncture on 140 healthy volunteers. In this study, acupuncture was applied in LI4’ skin blood flow was measured using a Moor full-field laser perfusion imager before and after acupuncture stimulation. Recently study has shown that stimulating LI4 also increased facial blood flow and hand blood flow. After acupuncture of the right LI4 acupuncture the change ratio of mean blood flux in the left LI4 was increased significantly compared with the control group 60 minutes after acupuncture stimulation. Another study has shown that acupuncture at LI4 and LI11 increased blood circulation along the meridian. Study at ST36 point also has suggested increased skin blood perfusion around the acupuncture point in healthy subjects. In 22 healthy volunteers acupuncture at PC6 point increased microcirculation blood perfusion units along the meridian. Increased blood circulation was also seen at the back acupuncture point study. This also demonstrated in some conditions For example, in a study patients with dysmenorrhea were treated with acupuncture. After 10 sessions of acupuncture treatment, microcirculation was increased and the symptom scores, pain index, and visual analog scale decreased significantly in treatment group.

References
Tsuchida Y J Dermatol Sci (1993) 5:175-81

Botox injection vs cosmetic acupuncture

Reduce wrinkles by botox injection

 
Botox is a neuro toxin. It has been used to treat various medical conditions. Recently it was approved for using in cosmetic purpose to reduce wrinkles on the face. This is because botox paralyses facial muscles. Botox injection is a procedure in which botox is injected into the desired area using injected needles. Following the treatments visible result can be seen within days or a couple of weeks. They tend to last for up to three or four months. Botox does not actually erase lines but relaxes them which means that deeper lines will become less deep and superficial lines will nearly disappear. Bleeding, bruising , swelling or redness at the site of injection is short term side effects. Other risks include headache, pain, and flu-like illness. In rare cases, there may be inappropriate facial expression, a drooping lid or eyebrow area, or double or blurred vision, dry mouth, fatigue and allergic reactions. If the toxin could travel back to the central nervous system, this would cause long-term damage.

Apart from botox injection, there is an alternative way to reduce wrinkles which is by facial acupuncture. Thin acupuncture needles are inserted in acupuncture points on the face. This is a natural way to relax facial muscles and reduce wrinkles. Also skin is better nourished by increased facial blood flow and becomes healthier. There is no side effects for acupuncture treatments apart from a small chance of little bruising which would disappear in a few days time.

What is cosmetic acupuncture, how does it work?

 
Recently, cosmetic acupuncture has been introduced as an intervention for skin rejuvenation. It is a natural and healthy way to look and feel years younger. Why acupuncture can play a role in cosmetic purpose? Treatment benefits include elimination of some wrinkles and decrease in length and depth of others, decrease of facial edema, decrease of acne, improvement of facial muscle tone, improveing skin texture with tighter pores, and decrease of sagging around the eyes, cheeks, chin, and neck, lifting of droopy eyelids, face and mouth, clearing or fading of age spots. Skin becomes more delicate and fair and at the same time overall appearance and health enhanced.

Facial mimetic muscles gradually straighten and shorten with age as a result of increased resting muscle tone and acupuncture can improve the muscle tone. Acupuncture helps regeneration of healthy skin cells, increase nutrition to the skin's surface, improves the quality of the skin and enhances a healthy glow, stimulates normal breathing of the skin and makes skin healthy and stronger to prevent infections and clogged pores. Good skin circulation takes waste and reduces grease accumulation resulting in deep cleaning of the skin. Acupuncture stimulates the production of collagen and elastin in the skin. Recently a research suggested that wrinkles were improved significantly after facial acupuncture treatment and facial elasticity was also improved in women aged 40 and 59 years.

Is there side effect of facial acupuncture? A study has shown that the most commonly reported adverse event that was clearly attributable to FCA treatment was mild bruising (20/140 treatment sessions; 14.28%) at the needle site. No adverse events of scarring, nerve damage, or lengthy recovery periods were observed.

References
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/brain-and-nervous-system/medicines/botox.html
Yun et al Evid Based Complement Alternat Med (2013) 2013:424313
Barrett Aesthet Surg J (2005) 25:419-24
Imokawa G and Ishida K Int Mol Sci (2015) 16:7753-75

Facial acupuncture, a new moisturiser for your face

Nowadays more people have dry skin due to changes in environments such as widespread heating and cooling. This makes skin aging quickly. Moisturising of the skin becomes an important anti-aging skin care. The balance of the water content, oil content and natural moisturising factors in the skin are important factors in maintaining moisturisation. Skin moisturisers are widely used. Skin moisturisers are complex mixtures of chemicals specially designed to make the external layers of the skin softer and more pliable. They increase the skin’s hydration by reducing evaporation. Apart from skin moisturisers is there other way to moisturise skin?

Does facial acupuncture moisturise skin? Is there any scientific evidence for such type of application? A study from Japan has shown that there was increased water and oil content for facial skin after cosmetic acupuncture suggesting that acupuncture can modulate the water and oil content of the skin. Facial acupuncture is a new approach for moisturising your facial skin.

As a result your skin achieves glowing, moisturizing, smooth and healthy, wrinkles disappear and muscles are relaxed. Skin elasticity is also restored. This helps to get rid of the stress and its further impact to the skin. As a result the skin aging slows down.

References

N. Donoyama et al (2012) Acupuncture in Medicine30: 152–153,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_skin_care

Facial skin care with facial acupuncture

Sun exposure damages the skin

In the summer people enjoy under the sun. Do you know too much sun exposure can cause skin damage? The sun produces ultraviolet (UV) light which can damage the skin, and cause sunburn, dry skin, dark spots, wrinkles. The sun cause facial muscle contracting and break down collagen and elastin which contribute to wrinkle formation. As a result you can add years to your looks. Research shows that 80% skin aging is caused by UV exposure. Is there any way you can turn back the clock? Facial acupuncture helps release facial muscle contraction reducing the wrinkles, improve skin microcirculation accelerating skin repairing.

What stress does to your skin?

Stress can affect your whole body including your face. It has a powerful effect on your facial skin. It accelerates aging process though the exact relationship of stress on aging is complex and isn't fully understood. Stress causes a chemical response that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. It also causes skin dryness and dehydration which leads to fine lines and wrinkles. It causes tension of facial muscles which leads to deep wrinkles and facial pain. Stress causes an inflammatory response in the body and leads the pores to become clogged and break causing acne. Skin losses its radiance which is result of skin blood flow slowing down. Skin also losses its elasticity and forms sagging skin.

Take care of your skin to prevent from damaging and rapid skin aging. This will help keep your skin healthy and glowing and delay the natural aging process.

Protect yourself from sun. Sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and increasing skin aging process.

Reduce stress. Stress makes wrinkles and accelerates skin aging process. Stress also makes skin more sensitive and causes other skin problems.

Natural skin care with facial acupuncture

Natural skin care is that you care the skin with naturally derived products however according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) all ingredients are chemicals by definition. And also natural does not have medical meaning to dermatologists.

Acupuncture in skin care. Facial acupuncture is putting acupuncture needles on the particular points on the face. Facial acupuncture is absolutely natural in facial skin care. It stimulates skin endogenous metabolisms and improves skin blood circulation and reduces stress.

Acupuncture improves skin blood supply

The skin contains a network of small blood vessels which provides nutrition to the skin. The blood vessel wall can contract and relax to regulate blood supply to the skin. If the blood vessels contract more than normal, less blood passes through them and the skin becomes pale and white. When the blood vessels are completely relaxed, this allows more blood to pass through the skin and the skin appear red. Improving skin blood flow will improve skin nutrition status.

Recently many studies have shown that acupuncture increases blood flow and microcirculation in the skin.

These are examples of the studies

Kuo TC et al Am J Chin Med (2004) 32:117-29

Mori H et al Acupunct Med (2014) 32:167-71
Hsiu H et al Microvasc Res (2013) 89:34-9
Kimura et al Acupunct Med (2013) 31:74-80

Huang T et al J Tradit Chin Med 92012) 32:40-4

Hsiu H etal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med (2011) 2011:435928

Hsiu H et al ConfProc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc (2008) 2008:2916-9

Hsiu H et al Lasers Med Sci (2009) 24:353-8

Hsiao SH and Tsai LJ J Acupunct Meridian Stud (2008) 1:42-50

Kimura K et al Am J Chin Med (2006) 34:189-96

Sandberg M et al Eur J Appl Physiol (2003) 90:114-9

Zhang D et al Sheng Wu Yi Xue Gong Cheng Xue Za Zhi

Baloqun JA Disabil Rehabil (1996) 18:523-8

In these studies, different acupuncture points are tested and all are found increased skin blood flow. One of the studies measured facial skin blood flow and skin temperature and showed the skin blood flow was increased after acupuncture treatments.

These studies provided scientific evidences for the application of facial acupuncture to improve facial skin blood flow and nutrition. Acupuncture is potentially a new approach to contribute to anti aging.