Wellness trends are always changing. When people get tired of vampire facials, they move on to red light therapy or collagen treatments.
Gua sha is a popular self-care practice that has existed longer than most other wellness trends. Once you learn more about gua sha and its benefits, you’ll see how it could improve your wellbeing too.
What is gua sha?
Gua sha is a technique from traditional Chinese medicine where a practitioner press-strokes along your muscular lines with a hard instrument, usually made from stone or stainless steel.
The term translates to “dredging meridian stagnation”, representing how the practice scrapes the muscles to resolve physical symptoms.
Does gua sha really work?
Yes, gua sha can benefit your face in multiple ways.
It provides numerous skincare benefits because it activates your muscles and skin cells. Learning about each benefit will make it easier to decide how gua sha can help you reach specific skincare goals for your face.
Benefits of gua sha for your face
People enjoy gua sha because it has numerous benefits for your face and body. If you give the practice a try, you may enjoy them, too.
Here are some of the key benefits of gua sha:
Gua sha improves circulation
If you press two fingertips together and pull them apart, the pads of your fingers will momentarily be a lighter colour before your blood rushes back in again. Gua sha helps the body in a similar way.
Pressing a rigid instrument like a body sculpting tool against your facial muscles and pushing it in repeated motions boosts local skin microcirculation, improving blood flow.
Better circulation helps your face create the collagen it needs to prevent or remedy sagging skin under your eyes, cheeks and neck.
You may find your skin will naturally glow after trying a practice like gua sha each week.
Gua sha drains your lymphatic system
Your lymphatic system connects lymph nodes throughout your body to drain waste from your blood. If that waste builds up in your lymph nodes, they become swollen.
Massaging your jawline and cheeks with gua sha techniques could target the lymph nodes in those areas to reduce puffiness and flush toxins out of your body.
This makes gua sha an excellent resource for anyone with a complicated skincare routine targeting frequent breakouts.
Using too many harsh ingredients can harm your skin, but it may seem like the only option if you’re always dealing with acne. Enjoying a facial gua sha massage could support your skin’s health while reducing how many acne-fighting products you need to use each day.
Gua sha smoothes wrinkles
Developing wrinkles is a natural part of ageing, but you can always improve your appearance if you want to.
Many people use gua sha to minimise their wrinkles because it smoothes expression lines that typically develop when your skin loses elasticity.
If you add it to a skin cycling routine that includes vitamin C serum and retinol, you may experience brighter, more youthful skin faster.
Common gua sha myths and misconceptions
Misconceptions always arise when something becomes popular. Learning about common gua sha myths will clarify if it’s the right treatment for your face.
Does gua sha sharpen your jawline?
While tightening your skin by increasing collagen production through gua sha massages does improve its elasticity, it won’t sharpen your jawline completely. There’s no scientific evidence that this self-care goal is possible with gua sha alone.
Talk with a plastic surgeon to discuss additional options like jowl fillers or surgery to remove excess skin if gua sha doesn’t make a noticeable difference in your jaw over time.
Do gua sha massages take a long time?
Gua sha massages don’t have to take a long time if you’re busy. Give yourself at least five minutes each day to work on areas like your cheeks and jawline with a gua sha tool.
You’ll consistently activate those muscles and skin cells without taking a large chunk of time out of your daily routine.
Do you need to do gua sha daily to see results?
You don’t have to do gua sha every day to see results, but you’ll experience better outcomes by activating your skin cells with daily massages.
If you wait multiple days between gua sha treatments, your skin will go back to things like slower collagen production because it isn’t getting any stimulation.
Can gua sha massages reduce double chins?
Gua sha massages won’t reduce double chins by themselves.
A double chin can exist for multiple reasons, like weight gain or aging. Stimulating your muscles won’t change those factors, but it can make your skin produce more collagen to make your skin a bit tighter over time.
If you want to get rid of your double chin, talk with a plastic surgeon or your general practitioner about other options like surgery and dietary changes.
Potential things to consider before you try gua sha
Gua sha is a simple practice anyone can try, but you should keep a few things in mind before and after your treatment. You’ll stay safe and experience better results by remembering things like:
- Don’t apply pressure with your gua sha tool if it creates significant pain or discomfort.
- Use a facial oil when doing gua sha to avoid the tool from pulling your skin due to dryness.
- Applying too much pressure on any part of your body will cause bruising and bleeding if you aren’t careful to listen to your body’s pain cues.
You should also talk with your doctor if you’re considering using gua sha as an alternative to an existing treatment. It may not be the best substitute, depending on your current medications, treatments or health history. Your doctor may have additional recommendations or precautions before you attend a gua sha appointment or try it at home.
Revolutionise your self-care routine
Gua sha has been a health practice for a long time, so you may feel curious about trying it.
It can provide multiple health benefits for some people, but it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor before attempting anything new. If they agree it’s a safe way to upgrade your skincare routine, you may find that gua sha is the next best addition to your daily life.
