TO YOUR HEALTH
Meet Microneedling - Your Health & Beauty Ally
BY HELENA AMOS, M.AC., L.AC., EURO. PHYSICIAN Acupuncture is best known for treating ailments like pain, allergies, or anxiety. Every time a needle is inserted into the skin, the body sees it as a “micro injury” and increases circulation to the area involved DQG WKH VWLPXODWLQJ SRLQW 7KLV UHDFWLRQ LV EHQH¿FLDO IRU VRPHWKLQJ like an old injury producing chronic discomfort or for inducing appe- tite suppression; but it also has implications for skin health and aging. $FXSXQFWXUH LV DOVR DQ H̆HFWLYH DOWHUQDWLYH PHWKRG IRU DGGUHVVLQJ skincare issues and enhancing beauty. Two of the most popular tech- niques — cosmetic acupuncture and microneedling — take advantage RIWKHLQMXU\UHVSRQVH ZKLOHWKH\DUHHDFKIDLUO\GL̆HUHQWERWKPHWK - RGVSURYLGHEHQH¿FLDOUHVXOWV Cosmetic Acupuncture and Facial Rejuvenation Cosmetic acupuncture is more in line with the acupuncture practic- HVRI7UDGLWLRQDO&KLQHVH0HGLFLQH 7&0 7KLVWUHDWPHQWRIWHQLQFRU - porates acupoints on other parts of the body targeting the associated internal organs that are known to correct the underlying imbalances contributing to issues in the face. For instance, there are points that LQÀXHQFH LPEDODQFHG KRUPRQHV HQGRFULQH V\VWHP RU SRLQWV WKDW clear digestive disorders, both of which can impact skin health, creat- ing premature wrinkles or skin impurities. 7KHUHDUHYDULRXVWHFKQLTXHVZLWKLQWKH¿HOGRIFRVPHWLFDFXSXQF - ture — everything from threading needles within and under wrinkles to simply using points across the face — but in general, they involve inserting small acupuncture needles into acupuncture points on the skin or into motor points to increase circulation, to stimulate collagen production, and to improve muscle tone. The increase in circulation to WKHDUHDFDQKHOSWKHERG\¿JKWWKHEDFWHULDLQYROYHGLQDFQHRUÀXVK out any toxins building up in a lymphatic system. Stimulating muscle motor points is important for facial muscle toning to avoid sagging, and the dreaded second chin and jowls. Ultimately, skin regains elas- WLFLW\DQG WKH IDFHFDQDSSHDU¿UPHU OHDGLQJ WRDPRUH\RXWKIXODS - pearance. :LWK $FXSXQFWXUH )DFLDO 5HMXYHQDWLRQ WKHUH DUH WKUHH PHFKD - QLVPVDWZRUN WKHEHQH¿WVWRWKHLQWHUQDORUJDQV WKHLQGXFHPHQWRI collagen production; and the resulting new collagen separating the damaged collagen — like that would comprise a wrinkle, scar or blem- ish — from the underlying tissue. Microneedling 0XFK OLNH LWV DFXSXQFWXUH FRXQWHUSDUWPLFURQHHGOLQJ LV D
year old time-tested treatment originating in ancient China. Emperors who wanted to live forever used this technique to remain youthful. 6LPSO\ SXWPLFURQHHGOLQJ LV WKH LQVHUWLRQ RI YHU\¿QH WKLQQHHGOHV into the skin for the purpose of skin rejuvenation. The process works by the needles creating micro channels in the skin. The channels are H̆HFWLYHO\VPDOOZRXQGVDQGWKHVNLQ¶VRZQUHSDLUUHVSRQVHLVWRVWDUW producing collagen, elastin, and new skin cells thereby healing that controlled injury that was just created. That in turn makes the skin tighter and smoother. In general, treatments are gentle and painless; the results can be visible after just one treatment, and can be long-last- ing. 0LFURQHHGOLQJ LV XVHG WR WUHDW DQG LPSURYH FRQGLWLRQV OLNH DFQH VFDUULQJ ¿QH OLQHV DQG ZULQNOHV ORRVH VNLQ VNLQ WH[WXUH SRUH VL]H EURZQ VSRWV VWUHWFK PDUNV DQG SLJPHQW LVVXHV 'HSHQGLQJ RQ WKH depth of the needle penetration, the level of skin rejuvenation and the UHVXOWVRIWKHWUHDWPHQWGL̆HU7KH\UDQJHIURPWKHVLPSOHHQKDQFH - PHQWRISURGXFWDEVRUSWLRQ²W\SLFDOO\DSSOLHGWRWUHDW¿QHOLQHVSRUH VL]HSLJPHQWDWLRQLVVXHVDQGVXQGDPDJH²WRWKHFOLQLFDOWUHDWPHQW RIWUDXPDWLFVFDUVPRGHUDWHZULQNOHVDQGDFQHVFDUV0LFURQHHGOLQJ can also be done on other locations on the body to get rid of scarring and stretch marks. In the case of hair loss, microneedling promotes hair growth. When used on the scalp, it stimulates dermal papilla, or the stem cells in hair follicles, to encourage growth factors. Again, the idea is the body’s natural defenses against these tiny wounds will en- courage the healing process and ultimately new hair growth to help reverse thinning hair. 8QOLNH 0LFURGHUPDEUDVLRQ D KDUVKHU IRUP RI VNLQ UHMXYHQDWLRQ that involves removing layers of skin, the channels created by mi- croneedling allow for delivery of topical nutrients by penetrating the VNLQ DEVRUSWLRQ FDQ LQFUHDVH E\ XS WR )RU H[DPSOH ZKHQ used with microneedling, Hyaluronic Acid, a potent and popular skin FDUHQXWULHQWKROGVWLPHVLWVZHLJKWLQZDWHUDOORZLQJIRUGHHS hydration, nourishment and rejuvenation. Apple stem cells, a holistic herbal topical, have shown in studies to promote facial stem cell reju- YHQDWLRQE\RYHU Professional microneedling is done with a top-of-the-line, premium &ODVVPHGLFDOGHYLFHWKDWORRNVOLNHDSHQ7KHPLFURQHHGOLQJSHQ like device oscillates to ensure the skin doesn’t tear. For example, all $FX0LFUR SUHPLXP QHHGOLQJ WLSV DUH VRPH RI WKH WKLQQHVW VWDLQOHVV steel needles on the market, and designed for single use. You know WKDW\RXDUHLQJRRGKDQGVZLWKDQ$FX0LFURFHUWL¿HGSUDFWLWLRQHU%H wary of faulty, vibrating (rather than oscillating) or cheap micronee- dling devices on the market, and it is never recommended to use de- vices intended for at-home treatment. What Is Nano-Needling? Both the nano- and microneedling treatments use a pen-like device that oscillates a tip up and down to stimulate a skin reaction. They both induce cell turnover, serum infusion and provoke the healing process that results in skin transformation. However, nano-needling ZRUNVDOLWWOHGL̆HUHQWO\1DQRQHHGOLQJRQO\D̆HFWVWKHHSLGHUPLV² the outermost of the three layers that comprise the skin — treating within the upper .15 mm of the skin. It does use the same type of os- FLOODWLQJPRWLRQEXWWKHFDUWULGJHHQFRPSDVVHVVLOLFRQHWLSV7KHVH microscopic hair-like cones separate the cells within the epidermis to DOORZDFWLYHSURGXFWVWREHSXVKHGLQWRWKHVNLQ7KHEHQH¿WVRIWKLV serum infusion treatment include pigmentation reduction, increased continued on page 33
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PATHWAYS—Spring 22—17
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