Microcurrent treatment is today’s facial treatment that uses low electrical currents, mimicking the body’s natural electrical currents. The technology behind this treatment re-educates facial muscles into shortening or lengthening based on the patient’s specific needs.
Microcurrents aid in various ways: lifting sagging skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, lifting droopy eyelids, and improving the skin’s tone and texture. It also allows you to see almost instant results. Your doctor or healthcare provider may suggest a series of microcurrent treatments and exercises to help maintain the healthiness of your facial muscles. Let’s learn more about microcurrent facials and what they’re used for.
What is a Microcurrent Treatment?
Microcurrent facials are cosmetic treatments wherein special handheld devices deliver small electrical currents to the face, down to the targeted sites that need treatment. These microcurrents stimulate the skin and muscles, aiming to improve one’s appearance. Microcurrent devices possess two (2) electrodes on one end, delivering the electrical currents needed. This procedure does not require any surgery, with patients remaining awake throughout the process and can allow them to do their usual activities right after.
Microcurrent devices are available for home use or through a licensed professional, wherein people can purchase the treatments they need. Practitioners have used microcurrent treatments for decades now, treating conditions like Bell’s palsy, which is a condition that paralyzes the facial muscles. But a 2015 analysis recommends the practice of microcurrent facials might not be as effective as one would assume.
How Do Microcurrent Facials Work?
Microcurrent facials use devices that work through the delivery of electrical currents to the muscles and skin cells. The science behind this idea is that electrical currents will help build up muscles in the face, simultaneously lifting and tightening the skin.
Some practitioners also claim that microcurrent facials help stimulate collagen production in the body. As of press time, no studies have yet been confirmed to support such claims. However, suggested anecdotal reports state that people will start noticing an immediate difference after having their microcurrent sessions.
Benefits and Effectiveness
Although limited still with enough scientific research, experts still suggest that the microcurrent treatments may help in:
- Stimulating the facial muscles – is one of the primary benefits microcurrent therapy has, among others. Stimulating the facial muscles may help one’s face appear tighter and potentially reduce visible signs of aging.
- Improving blood circulation – because electrical stimulation help enhances blood flow to the skin, microcurrent facials can be effective for this concern. This treatment may improve the health of skin cells, eventually making the skin look healthier or increasing plumpness.
- Speeding wound healing – some studies recommend microcurrent stimulation may aid in promoting the body’s wound-healing abilities. It may also help increase blood circulation to the treated areas or even reduce potential inflammation. This procedure may also help heal chronic wounds and ulcers and help with certain acne types.
Other Health Benefits
Microcurrent stimulation may also provide other non-cosmetic benefits to one’s health. For instance, a 2019 research determined that daily microcurrent therapy self-administered potentially reduces any facial pain from sinus congestion for up to six (6) hours. In addition, it can also help reduce pain and congestion over four (4) weeks of use.
The research on animals also claims that electrical stimulation may improve atrophied muscle functions. Further research in humans is still necessary to determine whether the microcurrent treatment might become a viable treatment for improving muscle weakness or muscle loss.
Professional VS Home Microcurrent Devices
Professional microcurrent devices tend to be much more potent than at-home devices. This fact makes it unsafe for these versions to be used at home and would also mean that they may create much more noticeable results.
Practitioners may also combine microcurrent treatments with other related services like serums, face masks, and massages. They can tailor this combination to their patient’s particular needs to achieve their desired results.
Meanwhile, those who use at-home microcurrent facials may be required to use their devices regularly to experience optimal results. It can also result in a much longer time before noticing equivalent effects because of weaker currents.
Are microcurrent Facials Safe?
As an FDA-cleared procedure, several microcurrent treatments are proven safe because of their ease of use and superior effects on facial lifting and toning results. Microcurrent treatments utilize low-intensity currents and should not result in any contraction of muscles, either physical or visual. This procedure re-educates one’s facial muscles to mirror the body’s electrical currents. A 2021 research indicates that microcurrent treatments are quite “relatively safe,” having only a few side effects.
Microcurrent treatments are not that strong enough to cause any injuries. Whenever people use these devices properly, they should not hurt themselves or cause skin damage. But as effective as this procedure can be, there are still those who should not have microcurrent facials. These people include those with:
- heart conditions
- epilepsy
- implanted medical devices (pacemakers)
Most microcurrent clinics also suggest against allowing pregnant women to be treated. This restriction happens because doctors do not know still if the treatment is safe for developing fetuses. Another potential risk starts from those microcurrent devices that are unregulated or untested. For those trying microcurrent facials at home, you should always use devices approved by the FDA or the Food and Drug Administration. Alternatively, people may also seek treatment from licensed professionals if need be.
Side Effects of Microcurrent Facials
There are limited studies on the potential after-effects of microcurrent facials. Some of these effects patients include the following:
- discomfort
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- facial twitching
- skin dryness
- skin irritation or sensitivity
- tingling
Those who would experience any side effects should consult their doctor or healthcare provider, especially those experiencing severe effects or who do not improve.
Final Thoughts on Microcurrent Treatments
Microcurrent facials help stimulate the face’s skin and muscles by delivering tiny electrical signals. People can do this treatment either at home with a bought device or receive it professionally by scheduling treatments with dermatologists.
Others claim to have experienced immediate results from their microcurrent facials, including effects like tighter skin and a much more sculpted appearance. But there is still little scientific research that proves this treatment to be effective or safe in the long run.
People considering microcurrent facials should first discuss all the potential risks and possible benefits of the microcurrent treatment with their doctor or healthcare provider. In addition, it is also advisable to consider reviews for those specific clinics before booking any treatment.
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