Anti-Aging Skincare Trend:: Is Cosmetic Acupuncture Effective as Skin Care?

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) May 8, 2009

A major tenet of acupuncture is that to reflect beauty on the outside, one must be healthy on the inside. Cosmetic acupuncture is a unique method of facial rejuvenation based on this philosophy. And its popularity is growing among women in America. Skincare-News.com's latest article, "Is Cosmetic Acupuncture Effective for Aging? " reviews the basics of this procedure and the latest on what experts have been saying.
http://skincare-news.com/a-5538-Is_Cosmetic_Acupuncture_the_Answer_to_Aging_.aspx

Principles of acupuncture

•     Blood and Qi flow. Acupuncture uses carefully-placed needles to promote blood flow and energy circulation. This energy is known as "Qi" or "Chi."

Blood and Qi travel along channels and pathways throughout the body. When blood or Qi create blockages in certain parts of the body, it can have negative effects. Once these blockages are cleared, blood and energy flow improve, and well-being is restored.

•     Balance. Due to its holistic nature, acupuncture focuses on the body as a whole and on the systems working together.

How cosmetic acupuncture works
Cosmetic acupuncture -- also known as acupuncture facial rejuvenation or an acupuncture facelift --involves placing very fine, disposable surgical needles on certain points of the face -- such as wrinkles around the mouth, forehead and eyes -- and other parts of the body -- such as the hands, arms, legs and feet.

What proponents say
Advocates of acupuncture believe that these needles unblock Qi and blood flow to skin and may correct a myriad of skin problems. According to research that appeared in the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture in 1996, 90 percent of 300 individuals who tried facial acupuncture saw positive results. These results included softening of facial lines, improvement in skin tone, reduction of under-eye circles and a general facial glow.

Proponents and practitioners of cosmetic acupuncture believe that:

•     It shrinks sagging. Proponents say cosmetic acupuncture affects the muscles in the face, thereby decreasing sagging of facial skin.
•     It softens and smoothes. Facial rejuvenation acupuncture, a type of cosmetic acupuncture, is "effective in smoothing out lines, erasing shallow lines, and softening deeper furrows," acupuncturist Della Aubrey-Miller, MAc, LAc, tells WebMD.
•     It creates collagen and elastin. Acupuncture stimulates skin cells to create new collagen and elastin fibers, filling in fine lines and wrinkles.
•     It treats discoloration. Cosmetic acupuncture can clear up or minimize age spots and pigmentation problems.

What critics say
Overall, those in mainstream dermatology and cosmetic surgery don't accept cosmetic acupuncture as an effective treatment. They believe:

•     It's a placebo. Critics believe cosmetic acupuncture produces a placebo effect: If they expect the treatment to work, they may think it has improved their skin, even if there's no actual improvement.
•     It doesn't boost collagen. Plastic surgeon and president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Foad Nahai, M.D., tells U.S. News & World Report that, "It would take a heck of a lot of needle sticks, hundreds of them for a long time, to lead to collagen stimulation."
•     It doesn't improve wrinkles. In some cases, cosmetic acupuncture also uses electrical currents with the needles, which allegedly boosts muscle tone for a more youthful look. However, plastic surgeon Richard D'Amico, M.D., disagrees. He tells The New York Times that this will actually make wrinkles worse.

In addition, it's important to realize that there are risks with acupuncture, and to research any potential risks and discuss them with a physician.

The bottom line
Currently, there's no research to show that cosmetic acupuncture is an effective anti-aging treatment, and it has many critics. But, there are clients who believe it delivers substantial benefits. As always, the best bet is to consult a dermatologist before scheduling any type of skin procedure.

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