Is It Safe To Do Facial Acupressure on Yourself?

For those who are unfamiliar with facial acupressure, they ask the question “Is it safe to do facial acupressure on yourself?” The answer to this question, of course, is “Yes! It is completely safe to do facial acupressure on yourself.” In this article, we’ll be exploring more about acupressure and how facial acupressure benefits you in the long run. 

Acupressure Defined

Acupressure is defined as a type of massage. Unlike acupuncture that uses needles, acupressure entails the application of pressure using the fingertips on pressure points, called acupoints. These acupoints can be found in the meridians or channels of energy, called qi. Acupressure allows for the free flow of qi, creating a ripple effect on the skin of the face.

Benefits of Facial Acupressure

There are numerous benefits of doing facial acupressure on yourself. These benefits are enumerated below.

• Promotes healthier-looking skin
• Improves skin elasticity 
• Stimulates lymphatic drainage of the face
• Reduces dark circles and eliminates eye bags
• Prevents acne breakouts
• Relieves tension in the jaw
• Soothes headaches or migraines
• Promotes better sleep
• Promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety
• Clears the sinuses

What Research Says About Facial Acupressure

Other than promoting a youthful glow to the face, facial acupressure has many other benefits. A comparative study on facial massage and foot massage reveals that facial massage promotes more relaxation. It also revealed that there is a greater reduction in blood pressure in the participants, making them more sleepy. This is indicative that facial massage is an excellent complementary therapy for treating stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders. 

In yet another study, facial acupressure is found to be effective in reducing pain, such as facial pains and headaches.

How to Do Facial Acupressure

Facial acupressure is best performed before applying any of your skin care products to your face. Here are the steps on how to do facial acupressure:

1) Wash your hands before applying acupressure on your face. This will ensure that your hands are well sanitized before doing the procedure.

2) Start by applying medium pressure on the point between your eyes, just above the bridge of your nose. Apply pressure for 3 seconds.

3) Move to the point along your inner eyebrows, applying the same 3 second pressure. Then, move to the point along your outer eyebrows.

4) Move to your temples. Still apply pressure at 3 second increments.

5) Move to your upper lips.

6) Move outwards, massaging your cheekbones then dip down to the sides of your jaw.

7) You can do this procedure three times for 15 minutes.

If you plan on using a facial acupressure wand, you can place it first inside your refrigerator to cool the device. Using a cold facial acupressure wand will reduce swelling and inflammation and relax the skin of your face. Once you finish using the device on your face, wash it thoroughly with warm water and soap and place it again in the refrigerator.

You can perform facial acupressure anytime and anywhere. You can do this before you go to work in the morning and before going to bed at night.

Conclusion

Facial acupressure is a completely safe procedure to do at home. It promotes healthier skin and helps in preventing acne breakouts. It also benefits all skin types, including aging and sensitive skin. If you’re still hesitant on how to do facial acupressure on yourself, you can always schedule the procedure with a licensed TCM practitioner first. Let them guide you through the process and ask any questions that you may need clarification on.