Click here to print »

Close Window

Someone a long time ago once said time and tide wait for no man. This maxim expresses a truth that, under no circumstances, can time or aging reverse itself. But they didn't say some assistance wouldn't work.

Cosmetic facial acupuncture can play a very important role in mitigating the displays the signs of aging make on your face. There may be laugh lines around your eyes from all the girlfriends who made you chuckle, vertical lines near your eyebrows from years of concentrating or frustration, horizontal lines across your forehead from all the surprises and feelings of awe you've experienced, or sagging jows with deep lines that reveal your times of sadness or concern.

Less invasive and virtually side effect-free, this beauty treatment reduces wrinkles, dryness, undereye bags, sinking jowls, and lackluster skin. Acupuncture needles are placed at specific sites directly on the face. The needles rally Qi (energy) and blood to help repair damaged skin by activating the body's ability to produce collagen and elastin.

Collagen is a protein found in many types of body cells and is essentially the glue that binds things together. It is famous in the cosmetic world for its ability to promote vital, vibrant skin. Elastin is a substance located in connective tissue that helps tissue rebound and keep its shape after being poked, prodded or stretched.

To address fine lines and wrinkles on the face, a technique called 'threading' may come in handy. The process calls for applying small, hair-thin acupuncture needles all along the length of the wrinkle. This invigorates the area with fresh blood and Qi to help plump out and fill in the furrows.

Sometimes dark, puffy circles persist under the eyes, resembling bags. There are acupuncture points near the eye that can assist in reducing fluid retention and stagnation. One of the points is called Tear Container, and it is located right under the eyeball. When this point is activated, it relieves dark bags, alleviates red, itchy eyes and improves blurry vision.

While undergoing facial treatment, you could also wind up with acupuncture needles in other parts of your body. For instance, there is a point near the thumb, called Union Valley, that strongly activates Qi so it can quickly reach the areas of your body that require healing.

Complement therapy with small lifestyle changes and a diet rich in collagen and elastin-producing foods.  Remember to eat lots of veggies that have a red, orange or dark green color to them. Then think white, as in white tea. This variety of tea is the least processed and contains high levels of antioxidants, giving it a special talent to fight the free radicals that destroy healthy, vibrant skin. The more free radicals eliminated, the better your skin will be.

Don't forget to protect your skin if you're going to be in direct sunlight for more than 20 minutes. Enlist the help of a wide-brimmed hat to keep your face in the shade.

Contact an acupuncturist today to schedule an appointment or to learn more about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Sources:
Facial Acupuncture: Natural Age-Defying. Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2015/04/12/facial-acupuncture-natural-age-defying

Mcallister, J. (2018). Food That Builds Collagen & Elastin After Age 50. Livestrong. Retrieved from https://www.livestrong.com/article/485132-foods-that-build-collagen-elastin-after-age-50/

About the Author: Vanessa Vogel Batt, L.Ac., MSTOM, studied at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, and practiced acupuncture and Oriental medicine in New York for several years. Vanessa enjoys traveling the world, and has published articles on acupuncture and Oriental medicine and related health topics for websites and publications in both the U.S. and abroad.