Is facial acupuncture the “natural” botox?

Honestly, when we heard about this, they had us at “natural.” There has been talk about facial acupuncture treating signs of aging as well as acne and other health concerns. Because there is very little research done on this beauty treatment, we decided to do some digging ourselves to know… does this really work?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine alternative. Facial acupuncture, also called “cosmetic acupuncture,” is more beauty-focused than anything. Dermatologist begin to put needles in the face to stimulate collagen production, improve skin quality, help heal acne and help heal acne scars.

A typical facial acupuncture uses about 40 needles in the face with 12 needles on the body, however, this can vary depending on your skin goals.

Although this treatment has been around for thousands of years, in the past it was reserved for the upper echelons of Chinese society. Now that is it more accessible, this “alternative medicine” has very little scientific data to back it up.

So, the real question: How does facial acupuncture help with anti-aging?

Collagen production slows down 1-2% each year as we age, which can lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Facial acupuncture is said to help with collagen production, which would, in theory, help treat and prevent the signs of aging.

Honestly, when we heard about this, they had us at “natural.”

That physical act of piercing needles into the skin causes what we call “microtrauma” to the skin. Microtrauma signals your body to send collagen to that area to heal. Microtrauma also helps to encourage blood flow and increase healing speed, which ultimately gives a “glow” to the skin.

Is facial acupuncture really a natural alternative to Botox though?

Yes and no.

If you are wanting instant the results that botox can give, then facial acupuncture may not be for you.

For facial acupuncture to give you the dramatic results that botox can give, you will have to commit to doing consistent treatments. Overtime, the treatments will begin to tighten and brighten the skin.

Oh, and if you’re already a devout botox user, you can get botox and facial acupuncture. Dermatologist with patients who use both beauty treatments have reported cutting down their botox usage anywhere from 50-70%! (Please note that facial acupuncture and botox should be used at least 4 weeks between each other.)

So, what are we saying? Don’t go into a facial acupuncture treatment expecting fast results. The process takes time, however, you are getting the benefits of natural collagen production and blood flow.

The science behind facial acupuncture’s potential Botox-like effects is limited, though there was one small study done in 2013 that showed “a significant improvement” in facial elasticity within five sessions.

Now, if you’re just looking for something that can increase collagen production, fits in your daily routine and doesn’t require needles, try our Collagen|glo drink mix.

Collagen|glo has been clinically shown to increase skin firmness and reduce wrinkle depth in just 30 days by spurring new collagen growth. This all-natural, delicious crystalline powder blends easily with water to form a tasty and nutritious liquid collagen drink. For more information, head over to Glotrition.com.

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