The skin contains 64% water. Water makes the skin pliable and smooth. Dehydration causes skin wrinkles and is also related to dry, scaly skin and irritant dermatitis.
Sun exposure is number one factor for skin damage causing skin dryness. Other factors include hot, cold and dry air, alcohol and smoking. The internal factors that affect the skin dryness include genetic influences, hormonal changes for example, during menopause the amount of oestrogen in the body is reduced, and this can result in the skin becoming dryer, aging, the skin’s ability to produce sweat and lipids decreases as people get older due to a reduction in function of sebaceous and sweat glands in the skin, diet, there is no doubt that the diet affects the skin dryness, lack of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins contribute to the dry skin, and dehydration.
The skin is moisturized by the oil that produced in the skin; also, the skin gets nutrients and oxygen from the blood circulation in the skin. If oil production or blood circulation is compromised, the skin loses moisture and become tight, rough, dry, and flaky. It makes the skin aging quickly and wrinkled. If untreated, dry skin can sometimes lead to dermatitis - inflammation of the skin - swelling, and infection.
Facial acupuncture can help improve skin circulation and oil production, so that the skin can get enough oxygen and nutrients that needed and get rid of toxin that would damage the skin. As a result, it improves skin dryness and makes the skin moisturised, smooth, healthy and glow.
Acupuncture can help increase water and oil content for facial skin. This is proved by a research paper. In this research, two women received five consecutive acupuncture sessions once a week for a month. Water content and oil content of the facial skin were measured and compared before and after the first acupuncture session and before and after the five consecutive acupuncture sessions. The result suggested that cosmetic acupuncture increased the water and oil content of facial skin in a female participant whose water content and oil content were lower before receiving acupuncture (which mean the skin was dry before acupuncture treatment).
References
N. Donoyama, A. Kojima, S. Suoh, and N. Ohkoshi, “Cosmetic acupuncture to enhance facial skin appearance: a preliminary study,” Acupuncture in Medicine, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 152–153, 2012.
