Why the skin becomes loose when you age ? How to tighten the skin with facial acupuncture?

Collagens are a hard, insoluble, and fibrous protein, the most abundant protein in the human body. Collagens are strong and flexible. They are found in the skin forming long, thin fibrils and contribute to skin strength and elasticity. In the middle layer of skin, collagen helps form a fibrous network of cells called fibroblasts for new cells growing and replacing dead skin cells.

Collagen production declines with age especially after menopause and exposure to factors such as smoking and UV light. If the skin produces less collagen, the integrity of the skin declines, as a result the skin is looser and wrinkles form.

What damages collagen and how?

High sugar: high sugar increases blood sugar attaching to the proteins to form new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which can make collagen dry, fragile ad weak.

Smoking: chemicals in the tobacco can damage collagens in the skin.

Sun exposure and UV light: UV light make collagen breaking down quickly and damaging collagen fibers. UV light also damage the skin collagen synthesis forming wrinkles.

Aging: With aging the collagen production is reduced.

Unfortunately, collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin. So, no cream applied to the skin gives the skin more collagen.

Elastin is a protein in connective tissue that allows tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Elastin is synthesized early in life and by the time of around age 40 elastin biosynthesis slows down. The loss of elastin biosynthesis is closed related to the appearance of skin wrinkles and other aging processes. With aging, clearance of damaged elastin also slow down, as a result accumulation of damaged elastin increases abnormal elastin synthesis.

Unfortunately, externally applied elastin can not pass through the skin and can not slow the loss of elastin from aging issues. Facial acupuncture can increase skin collagen and elastin production by

Why you should try cosmetic acupuncture to avoid plastic surgery

Our face changes or ages when we 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 muscles. The skin becomes dry, dull, wrinkles, loose and sagging; the muscles are shortened and straightened; face, corners of the eyes and mouth droop; various spots and pigmentation appear on the face. The most common places to get wrinkles on the face are the forehead, around the eyes and around the mouth. Environmental factors can speed up aging process: such as hormonal imbalance, sun exposure, smoking, stress, diet, diseases etc. can make people look older than their age.

Facial acupuncture or cosmetic acupuncture is the acupuncture on the face for anti-aging purpose. Does it work? If you ask this question, you haven’t tried yet. Everyone who tried cosmetic acupuncture loved it. Recently, facial acupuncture has been introduced as an intervention for skin rejuvenation and becomes more and more popular. It is a natural and healthy way for anti-aging. What is the benefit of facial acupuncture? Facial acupuncture can eliminate wrinkles, moisturise facial skin, improve skin texture and colour, relax facial muscles, and decrease sagging skin, clear spots and pigmentation. Recently a research suggested that wrinkles were improved significantly after facial acupuncture treatment and facial elasticity was also improved in women. It is an alternative way to avoid plastic surgery, if you want to. Start early to get better results.

Why acupuncture on the face can play a role on cosmetic purpose? Acupuncture relaxes facial muscles and improves blood flow and microcirculation in the skin. Muscle relaxation unfolds the skin to reduce the wrinkles and lifts up the face. Good skin circulation takes waste away and reduces skin toxin; it provides more nutrients and oxygen to the skin. Acupuncture also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, helps skin regeneration and increases skin elasticity.

Medial line of the body and energy circulation with acupuncture

The medial line (midsagittal plane) is on the midline and the central axis of the body, dividing the body vertically into right and left haves. On the back side, the medial line starts from the sagittal suture, the midline of the head, follows the spine to the tail bone. On the front side of the body, the medial line travels down from the sagittal suture of the head, breastbone, navel, and pubic bone. The line continues between the legs down to the ground without anatomic structure. Movements within the sagittal plane are flexion and extension – forward and backward movements of the head, spine, and limbs.

The sagittal suture is a dense, fibrous connective tissue joint between the two parietal bones of the skull.

Down to the back, the sagittal suture moves to the ligaments on the spine.

The nuchal ligament extends from the external occipital protuberance on the skull and median nuchal line to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra in the lower part of the neck. It is the starts of the trapezius and splenius capitis muscles attached to the shoulder and the head separately.

Supraspinous ligament connects the tips of the spinous processes from the seventh cervical vertebra to the sacrum and is the continuous of nuchal ligament down to the spine. Part of the trapezius and latissimus dorsi start from this ligament and connect to the shoulder.

Spinal erectors are a group of muscles and tendons which run from the sacrum or sacral region to the base of the skull. They are paired lying on the left and right of the spine.

Down to the front, the sagittal suture moves to the frontal suture on the forehead. The frontal suture is a fibrous joint that divides the two halves of the frontal bone of the skull.

On the midline of the chest, it raises the pectoralis major and connects to the shoulder.

The white line in the medial line of the abdominal wall (linea alba) is a fibrous structure that runs down the midline of the abdomen from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis. It is formed by the fusion of the aponeuroses (deep fascia) of the abdominal muscles, it lies between the left and right rectus abdominis muscles.

The medial line tightness can create tension on the whole body blocking blood and energy circulation. Acupuncture can release tension and improve blood and energy circulation.

Irregular periods to get pregnant, acupuncture can help

After puberty, women usually have a regular menstrual cycle. Periods occur around the same time each month. These menstrual cycles last on average 28 days but can vary individually. However, there are many reasons why some women may experience irregular periods. Some women find that they have periods early or late in their menstrual cycle. Many medical conditions can affect women’s menstrual cycles. You need to see doctors to get it checked out if there is an underlying condition for the irregular periods. Hormonal changes can affect the periods: using hormonal contraception is a common cause. Unbalanced of the female sex hormones progesterone and oestrogen can also make your periods irregular. Stress and anxiety can also induce hormonal changes which can cause irregular periods. When the stress hormone cortisol is released by the body, it can have a direct effect on the levels of oestrogen and progesterone. Other factors cause irregular periods include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid problems, extreme weight loss or weight gain, excessive exercise.

If you have irregular menstrual cycles and want to get pregnant, this could cause problems. This is because 1) it is hard to know ovulation time; 2) the eggs might not good enough in some cycles which reduce the chance to get pregnant. 3) the uterine lining might not develop well due to imbalanced hormones.

Acupuncture can help regular hormone to achieve balanced hormone and reduce stress to regular menstrual cycles to get pregnant.

Wind exposure can damage the skin, facial acupuncture can help skin repairing

We all know that sun exposure can damage the skin. Do you know wind and chill can damage the skin too? The body gives off a layer of heat that protects the skin from cold temperatures. A strong wind can blow this layer away from the skin, taking away this natural defence to the cold. As the wind increases, the body is cooled at a faster rate causing the skin temperature to drop. Exposure to wind and chill can cause windburn and frostbite. Being exposed to below zero wind chills can induce frostbite within five minutes. While wind chills below minus 20 degrees can result in frostbite within a minute of exposure. The affected skin and tissue go numb. It’s most likely to strike the fingers or toes, ears, cheeks, chin, or nose. The exposure can lead to severe damage.

Other conditions related to wind and chill.

Chilblains is a condition in which the small blood vessels in the skin is inflamed after being exposed to cold. These clusters of small blood vessels get red, itchy, and swell or blister. Patches usually appear on your fingers, toes, ears, and cheeks. Wearing layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing can trap air between the layers to insulate you. For dry and cracked skin, apply of cream can help to moisturise the skin.

Facial acupuncture can help damaged skin on the face repairing.