Acupuncture for Skin Care in the News

Cosmetic Acupuncture, Facial Acupuncture, Facial Enhancement Acupuncture, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, Acupuncture Facelift, AcuFacial – these are some of the terms being used to describe when an acupuncturist uses needles to benefit the skin – and recently, all these types of acupuncture for skin care are getting a lot of coverage in the news.

Most recently, Good Morning America did a segment on AcuFacial, a new treatment from Shellie Goldstein, a New York area acupuncturist.

Goldstein says,

“We are taking your face to the gym, we’re exercising it.  We have muscles in our body, we have muscles in our face, there is no other procedure that actually exercises the muscles and improves circulation in your skin.”

“The biggest thing has been my skin looks so clear and I rarely wear any makeup on my face, I have a nice glow to my face, my eyes don’t look tired or puffy,” she said. “I’ve noticed a lot of tightening especially in the jawline area, lift around the eyes … people look at me and say something is different but they don’t really know what and it’s all from the AcuFacial.”  – Alyson Halter, AcuFacial patient

So, how is what we do here at In-Symmetry, The Acupuncture Facial, different?

Other types of acupuncture for skin care are performed only by an acupuncturist – who is generally not a licensed esthetician and is not using professional skin care products.

The Acupuncture Facial is different because it is performed by two different practitioners who are experts in their field.

Rachael Webb, LAc, FEA and Elizabeth Markham, LE have developed what may be the most effective anti-aging treatment around.  Together they both focus on enhancing the health of your skin – one from the inside, the other from the outside.  By balancing the body’s systems internally, and using professional skin care products externally, the patient feels beautiful inside and out.

“As within, so without.”

Through this collaboration, each practitioner is allowed to excel in her particular area of focus.  Rachael does the acupuncture.  Elizabeth does the facial.  Together they are producing remarkable results, and patients are loving it.

Read more about the details of the treatment here.

Call In-Symmetry today to schedule your Acupuncture Facial – before we fill up!

 415-875-9020

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Chinese Medicine + Modern Skin Care

A good friend of mine just introduced me to Rodan + Fields – the two amazing women behind Proactiv, a product that has helped countless men & women achieve clearer skin, not to mention increased self-confidence!  Now they’ve started a new company (Rodan + Fields) and one of the things that makes them unique is that they are using Chinese Medicine in their modern skin care treatments!  Talk about Integrating Beauty!

Rodan + Fields has started using a special roller as part of their ANTI-AGE AMP MD System.  Here is a video detailing the way their AMP MD Roller works:

The AMP MD Roller is “constructed of surgical-grade stainless steel acupuncture needles to safely and comfortably create precise micro channels in the upper-most layer of the skin.”

In Traditional Chinese Medicine this type of a roller was part of a practice known as “skin needling.”  Today these rollers are often called Derma Rollers.

Derma rollers, designed with a hard spiked surface, are used to vigorously roll across the skin to promote the circulation of qi and blood. They are useful in the treatment of qi and blood stagnation and deficiency including muscle spasms, scar therapy, cosmetic acupuncture, hair loss treatment, stretch mark removal and dermatological conditions. (Courtesy of The Journal of Chinese Medicine)

This is a more traditional looking Chinese derma roller:

 

 

Lead Dermatologists are using Chinese Medicine in modern skin care!!

It IS happening!!

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Sugar and Aging: How to Fight Glycation (from Elle magazine)

I’ve been reading a lot about how sugar affects the aging process lately.  A lot of people say to avoid sugar, but this article from Elle Magazine does the best job of explaining the science behind the way sugar affects our cells.

“The science is this: When you have sugar molecules in your system, they bombard the body’s cells like a meteor ­shower—glomming onto fats and proteins in a process known as glycation. This forms advanced glycation end products (commonly shortened, appropriately, to AGEs), which cause protein fibers to become stiff and malformed. Much of what is known about glycation’s ill effects comes from diabetes research: The connective-tissue damage and chronic inflammation resulting from diabetics’ sustained high blood sugar can lead to debilitating conditions, such as cataracts, Alzheimer’s, vascular tightening, and diseases of the pancreas and liver.  The proteins in skin most prone to glycation are the same ones that make a youthful complexion so plump and springy—collagen and elastin. ”

Read the whole article here:  Sugar and Aging via Elle.com

What can you do?  

Drink Green Tea:  stimulates collagen synthesis.  Awesome excuse to switch from coffee!

Stop smoking – or better yet, don’t start!

Have an Emergen-C:  everyone loves the fizzy drink, and Vitamin C is important for reducing the damage from sun exposure, smoking (or secondhand smoke), and pollution.  Red peppers, oranges, and papayas rank highest among Vitamin C rich foods.  Check out this chart!

Take some Vitamin E:  together with Vitamin C, these two superstars protect your skin from sun damage according to the American Academy of Dermatology.   (But stick with less than 400 IUs per day to avoid toxicity).

Get Acupuncture!  Acupuncture stimulates the body’s ability to regenerate, accelerating the anti-inflammatory process, and helping the body remove accumulated toxins from the skin and tissues of the face.  Cosmetic Acupuncture stimulates blood flow, collagen and elastin production through the microtrauma from the tiny needles inserted into the face.                                       O Magazine’s Beauty Editors check it out here!

According to NYC Dermatologist Fredric Brandt, MD, “Anything that stimulates the fibroblasts to build new collagen is going to help eradicate damage.”

And of course getting enough sleep and having good stress management solutions are a no brainer!

5 Step Asian Skincare Routine

A friend of mine who launched her own skincare line last year just recommended this book.

The Japanese Skincare Revolution is a fabulous book about how to take care of your skin at home, at any age.  The author, Chizu Saeki is an esthetician and beauty consultant in Japan.  She also teaches, writes, and tours to demonstrate her techniques for skin care.

After reading some of the reviews online, I stumbled upon the idea of the “5 Step Asian Skin Care Routine.”  I’ve been caring for my face using these 5 steps for about 4 months now, and even other people are starting to notice a difference!

5 Step Asian Skincare Routine

1.  Double Cleansing

First you use an oil to cleanse your face.  This makes sense since most makeup is oil based.  I like to use coconut oil because it is 1) antimicrobial and gets rid of any bacteria on my face – goodbye acne! and b) because on a molecular level, coconut oil is small enough to penetrate the skin the moisture is actually absorbed – goodbye wrinkles!  Now, this is still a 2-part process.  For the second part of the double cleansing, I use a soap-free moisturizing cleanser.

2. Facial Massage/Mask

Normally I combine the massage step into step 1 when I have the coconut oil on my face.  Massage in a sweeping upward motion until the skin attains a slight flush – this way you know you’ve activated the blood flow to the area, which will help nourish the cells.   About once a week I’ll add in the facial mask step.  You’ll need to use a mask that’s right for your skin type.  Clay masks are better for oily skin, and the lotion mask that Chizu Saeki demonstrates in the video below is amazing!

3. Toner

Now I know a lot of people think toners are obsolete, but seriously what can be better than smoothing your skin with rosewater after you’ve cleansed?  Even the aromatherapy benefits alone are worth it!  Toners help to remove dead skin cells, replenish your skin with moisture after cleansing, and make the absorption of any subsequently applied products easier and faster.

4.  Facial Serum

A facial serum has smaller molecules than a moisturizer.  These molecules penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, brining more nutrients to these important areas.  The consistency is similar to that of a very light lotion or gel.  There are many different types of serums: anti-aging, brightening, and firming are some examples.  Image Skincare makes this Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum that works great and smells like orange sorbet!  It’s best if you apply the serum and then wait 5-10 minutes before applying your moisturizer.  This gives the serum time to penetrate to the deeper levels of your skin.

(I also like to add in a step here for eye cream!)

5.  Moisturizer

I thought that because I have combination skin I was okay just using a serum, but my esthetician told me otherwise!  A good moisturizer is your best friend, you just have to pick one that’s right for your skin type.  The type of moisturizer may also change depending on the seasons, or climate if you’re traveling.

It might sound like a lot of work at first, but once you establish a routine it won’t seem like a big deal.  The importance of maintaining the routine was made clear to me recently when I was traveling and only took along some facial cleansing wipes.  The overall luster and brightness of my skin was significantly reduced, and I noticed a few black heads and red spots.  Nothing that wasn’t remedied by returning to my routine when I returned home, but still eye opening!

Here’s that fabulous video of Chizu Saeki demonstrating the lotion mask: