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Dermapen versus Cosmetic Acupuncture

When it comes to erasing a few years from your face, a lot has been written about both Cosmetic Acupuncture and Dermapen. Many years ago, I was describing Cosmetic Acupuncture to my dermatologist, and she said it sounded like a new treatment that involved using tiny needles rolled over your entire face. At the time, it sounded brutal, even to my acupuncturist self, but Dermapen and Dermarolling have become popular facial rejuvenation treatments since then.

Both Cosmetic Acupuncture and Dermapen are similar in theory. They both use tiny needles to create microtraumas, or tiny injuries in your skin. In the healing process, your body makes more collagen, which is the net-like structure under your skin that keeps it supple. It also boosts elastin, which allows your skin to stretch but retain its shape.

What’s Involved

While the theory behind both treatments are similar, there are some differences. A Dermapen treatment involves the use of an electric hand-held device which covers most of the skin on your face or neck fairly quickly. This is not to be confused with a Dermaroller, which is a small wheel with tiny needles that can be used at home. A Dermaroller also creates small punctures, but don’t penetrate as deeply or as uniformly as a Dermapen.

Cosmetic Acupuncture is a treatment in which small needles are placed throughout your face at specific acupuncture points. More than one needle may be inserted at a point on the face, with up to 80 facial needles being used in a treatment. In addition to facial needling, your practitioner will have taken a complete health history and will place needles at other points in your body to address any health issues you may have.

The Differences

Both Dermapen and Cosmetic Acupuncture are effective in building collagen and elastin. There are some differences to be aware of, however, if you’re considering one treatment over the other.

-A Dermapen treatment creates tiny punctures over your entire face or neck. Because it’s puncturing over large areas, most patients will need a topical anesthetic during a Dermapen treatment.

-Cosmetic Acupuncture consists of inserting needles into specific acupuncture points that have known healing properties. The effects of a Cosmetic Acupuncture treatment is systemic. Your practitioner is not only treating your face, but placing other needles based on your health needs.

-Both Dermapen and Cosmetic Acupuncture increase collagen and elastin in your face. However, acupuncture treatments also have the effect of decreasing inflammation, increasing the circulation of stress-reducing neurotransmitters in your brain, strengthening your immunity, and helping to balance your hormones. As a result, many people report that their overall health has improved after a series of Cosmetic Acupuncture treatments.

-Cosmetic Acupuncture is a little kinder and gentler. Once the needles are inserted, you’re left to relax for 20-30 minutes. You can have a Cosmetic Acupuncture treatment twice a week, while a Dermapen treatment requires several weeks in between treatments.

The bottom line is that both Dermapen and Cosmetic Acupuncture increase the production of collagen and elastin below the surface of your skin. They’re both an effective way to treat fine lines and wrinkles, and to make your skin firmer. While the Dermapen covers more areas of your face and/or neck, Cosmetic Acupuncture is a good choice if you’re having other health problems or need some stress relief while you’re dialing back the clock.

Five Truths About Cosmetic Acupuncture

We live in a time and place that values youth and beauty, sometimes above all else. Billions of dollars are spent annually by both women and men attempting to hold onto that elusive glowing, wrinkle-free look of their youth, which becomes increasingly difficult to do as we age.

Chinese medicine offers up a solution in the form of cosmetic acupuncture, which consists of a series of acupuncture treatments dedicated to improving skin tone and reverse some of the signs of aging. Each treatment involves the insertion of tiny needles into your face, along with a few points on the rest of your body for overall health. A lot has been written about cosmetic acupuncture, sometimes with great exaggeration and misleading information, so here are a few points that should make things clearer.

-Cosmetic acupuncture is not the same thing as a facelift. The results of cosmetic acupuncture have been compared to a facelift, Botox, and fillers, which is just not true. Acupuncture in general is a kinder, gentler form of healing, and the results from cosmetic acupuncture reflects that as well. People who have had a full series of cosmetic acupuncture treatments will notice that their skin tone looks brighter and more even. They may also find their face less puffy, fine wrinkles may be reduced, and deeper wrinkles may look softer. In addition, some patients may notice slight lifting around their jowls and eyes. However, those changes will be subtle; like you’ve had a little something done—not like you’ve had surgery.

-Cosmetic acupuncture is not just about your face. Each treatment combines facial points to stimulate circulation and collagen with acupuncture points on your body, selected to treat your specific health needs. As a result, many patients who have had cosmetic acupuncture have noticed improvements in their overall health, too. Patients have described sleeping better, improved digestion, and fewer hot flashes—just from undergoing cosmetic acupuncture. This is a good thing, as your good health is reflected in your skin.

-Cosmetic acupuncture is more than just an anti-aging treatment. Many patients have seen skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema improve after undergoing cosmetic acupuncture treatments.

-You don’t need to choose between cosmetic acupuncture and aesthetic services—if fact you will get better results if you combine services such as facials, light therapy, and peels with cosmetic acupuncture. Your acupuncturist and aesthetician are on the same page, which is to give you the best results possible!

-You don’t need to suffer to beautiful. The bottom line is that while placing needles in your face may pinch a bit, it’s not considered by most patients to be painful. Instead, they will tell you that a cosmetic acupuncture session is actually incredibly relaxing, as acupuncture increases the production of endorphins and other feel-good chemicals in your brain. The result is that from the time you’re on the table, for hours, and sometimes several days after your treatment you will feel mellow, rested, and less stressed. And it will show on your face.

Ten Reasons to Try Cosmetic Acupuncture

It’s a fact of life that we all want to look our best. However, what we are willing to do to look good varies from person to person. While many people are willing to go the Botox route or undergo surgical procedures to improve their looks, there are more people who are not. Cosmetic acupuncture is a great choice for those of you who want to give your skin a boost, but don’t want to inject Botox, fillers, or have surgery. It works well for aging baby boomers as well as for younger women and men who want their skin to look healthy, glowing, and…well, a little younger.

Cosmetic acupuncture is also known as acupuncture facial rejuvenation, and sometimes called an acupuncture facelift. It involves the use of traditional acupuncture to slow the signs of aging in your face, tune up your skin, and to bring back that youthful glow to your cheeks.

There are a number of benefits to cosmetic acupuncture, and here are our top ten reasons to give it a try:

Cosmetic acupuncture works by increasing the circulation in your skin. As you get older, your circulation tends to get a little sluggish. Cosmetic acupuncture brings all those nutrient goodies like collagen and elastin back to where you want it–in your face and neck.
The increased circulation translated into better skin tone, fewer fine lines, and even some lift around sagging jowls and baggy eyes.
It’s safe. There are no side effects, other than an occasional bruise, which heals in less than a week. You don’t have to worry about scarring, lumps, or botched procedures.
Cosmetic acupuncture is chemical-free. There are no acid peels, Botox, or injectable fillers involved in the process.
Your health benefits from the sessions, too. During a cosmetic acupuncture treatment, your acupuncturist also treats any health concerns that you have. They do this because beautiful skin is linked to good health. You can’t have beautiful, glowing skin if you’re health is suffering.
It’s relaxing. Really. It may seem unlikely that an acupuncture treatment is relaxing, but the truth is that acupuncture increases the release of endorphins, those feel-good chemicals in your brain. This means that from the time you’re on the table for hours, and sometimes days after your treatment, you’ll feel mellow, rested, and less stressed.
Cosmetic acupuncture is effective in treating acne, eczema, and rosacea.
You’ll spend less money on cosmetic acupuncture than if you go the plastic surgery or injectable route. Each acupuncture treatment costs about $100 compared to several hundred or even thousands of dollars for injectables or surgery.
The effects of cosmetic acupuncture can last years with just minor tune ups every six months or so.
There is no down time with cosmetic acupuncture. You can have a treatment at lunch and head back to work glowing and relaxed.

Beauty from the Inside Out

Adele* first came to our clinic several years ago to be treated for facial pain. Her pain was chronic, and after acupuncture treatments which involved placing small needles in her face, Adele was able to find relief from her pain. Adele continued coming to our clinic almost weekly for months, and even years, as acupuncture was the only thing that really helped her pain. However, after awhile, Adele’s co-workers began to notice and comment on improvements in her skin. It seems that the increased circulation from the acupuncture was actually making Adele look younger!

While it may seem odd that performing acupuncture for Adele’s facial pain would cause her skin to look younger, it makes perfect sense from the standpoint of Chinese medicine. The acupuncture treatments Adele had undergone had increased the circulation of energy and blood to her face, making it appear younger and more vibrant. The following is a discussion of the causes of aging skin and wrinkles, and what you can do to improve your skin, according to the theories behind Chinese medicine.

Dryness. According to Chinese theory, the primary cause of wrinkles is dryness. Now, your first thought may be, “Great, just use more moisturizer”. However, while it may show up on the surface, the dryness that we are talking about goes much deeper. Yin, a moisturizing and cooling substance in your body can become depleted, especially as you age. Deficient Yin is a systemic form of dryness that can affect all parts of the body and can make your skin look dry and wrinkled, even though you are regularly using a moisturizer.

As you age, Yin naturally becomes depleted, causing a decrease in moisture that can be seen especially on the surface of the skin. It appears as drying, thin skin. Below the surface, the depletion of Yin causes the sagging, loose skin due to a loss of the fat (also a Yin substance) that pads our face and neck.

Poor Circulation. The circulation of both energy and blood is crucial to good health. If you have impaired circulation, it will frequently show up on your face. In fact, many ancient Chinese texts refer to the appearance of the face in relation to various health conditions. Stagnation or the accumulation of blood, or water can cause dark circles under your eyes, a dusky or dull complexion, or under eye bags.

In addition, the circulation of energy and blood brings all the nutrients you need for beautiful skin to your face, including collagen and elastin. If your circulation is not good, whether from smoking, lack of exercise, or even strong emotions, your face will not look its best.

Diet and Digestion. Good diet and digestion are critical components of any skin care program. It is important to know that what you eat and how it’s prepared have a huge impact on the appearance of your skin.

In Chinese theory, improper diet is a common cause of illness and imbalance. Improper diet can have a few different meanings. First, eating too much food can make us fat, but in Chinese theory overeating can also damage your organ systems associated with the process of digestion. In contrast, not eating enough food can be equally as damaging. Without adequate intake, your body doesn’t have the building blocks to make energy, blood, and nutrients. Eating too much of any particular food can throw your body out of balance and damage various organ systems, too.

In Chinese theory, eating unclean food can also be a cause of disease. In ancient times, unclean food meant food that had spoiled or food that contained parasites. However, in modern times, unclean food might be considered food that is overly preserved or has lots of added chemicals. In addition, foods that have a high bacteria count would also be considered unclean.

The Balance between Work and Rest. The idea of overwork is an interesting concept in Chinese medicine. For me, the idea of overwork conjures up the picture of someone working long hours doing manual labor. However, overwork can also mean too much studying, too many hours at your desk, or excessive exercise. While a certain amount of exercise is appropriate, too much can be an underlying cause of imbalance and ultimately, illness.

Sleep is also part of the work/rest equation. Our bodies rejuvenate when we rest. If you are having difficulty getting enough sleep due to your schedule or because you suffer from insomnia, it is important to address your sleep issues. Lack of sleep will show up directly on your face.

Emotions. Emotions can be the cause of almost any disease, according to Chinese theory. In our day and age, stress is probably the emotion most damaging to our health. Stress, over time, binds up our energy, causing stagnation and illness. Worry, anxiety, anger, sadness, and other strong emotions knot up our energy and damage your digestion. In order to have optimal health and glowing skin, emotions that are overpowering your life, especially stress, will need to be dealt with.

Some Tips. Now you know what causes wrinkling and aging of your skin, but what can you do to improve the appearance of your skin according to Chinese theory?

-Eat foods that are Yin-replenishing. This includes darkly colored fruits and vegetables; healthy, plant based fats like nuts, nut oils, avocado, olives, etc.; and lean proteins.

-Pay attention to your digestion. Foods should be cooked, not too spicy, rich, or greasy. Avoid foods that cause you indigestion.

-Increase your circulation through exercise, movement, and massage.

-Quit smoking, as it impedes your circulation.

-Get adequate sleep—ideally seven to eight hours a night.

-Manage the strong emotions and stress that cause you to squint and frown.

-Find an acupuncturist who can correct the imbalances in your body, increase your circulation, and even perform acupuncture to erase some of your wrinkles.

*Names and identifying details have been changed.

Nourish Your Skin with Chinese Dietary Therapy

Diet and digestion are one of the most important, and most frequently overlooked components of skin care. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, what you eat nourishes the face, and without adequate nutrients and good digestion, your skin can’t look its best.

The Chinese consider food as medicine that you eat three times a day. They believe that as important as what you eat is how you digest the foods you eat. Think of your digestive process as a pot of soup constantly simmering on the stove at low heat. When we eat, we are adding ingredients to that pot of soup, and the quality of those ingredients greatly affects our health, and ultimately, how we look. For example, if we add very cold things like iced drinks or ice cream to that pot, it takes a lot of energy to bring it back to a temperature where it is simmering again. The same is true of a lot of raw fruits and vegetables. It uses up energy to digest those foods–energy which could be used in nourishing your body instead of digesting your food. If you cook your food lightly, those same fruits and vegetables are much easier to digest.

The link between digestion and our appearance is almost direct. Energy and blood, which is brought up to the face during cosmetic acupuncture, is produced by the food we eat. If our diet or digestion is poor, then there is not as much energy and blood to work with.

Some guidelines for good diet and digestion:

-Avoid iced drinks, ice cream, and too many raw fruits and vegetables.

-If you need to improve your digestion, turn to soups, stews, and stir fried foods, as they are the most easily digested way to get the nutrients you need.

-Avoid drinking too much alcohol, as it is dehydrating.

-Very spicy foods are difficult to digest, and eating them too frequently can damage your digestion.

-Vitamin supplementation for your skin should include a good multivitamin daily and supplementation with antioxidants, including Vitamins A, C, E, CoQ10, and B complex.

-Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants, especially the colorful vegetables, and leafy greens.

-Talk to your practitioner for specific recommendations based on the principles of Chinese Medicine and your individual needs

What’s Involved

The Differences

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