Facials are beauty treatments for your skin that address conditions such as aging, fine lines/wrinkles, acne and acne scars. Rebekah Hunt, skin health professional at Revive Spa and Skincare, shares that facials offer the well-known benefits of healthy, youthful and rejuvenated skin. This healthy skin is promoted through the exfoliation and hydration provided with most facial treatments.
While facials offer exfoliation and hydration that contribute to overall skin health, here are three more surprising health benefits making them exceedingly more popular in recent years:
Relieves stress – Technically, a facial is a “facial massage.” Body massage has always been known as a great way to relieve stress and help you relax because of positive psychological and physiological effects. Little research had been done on facial massage until a groundbreaking 2008 study published in the Journal of Biomedical Research revealed that facial massage — like with a facial treatment — significantly decreases anxiety and negative mood and increases sympathetic nervous activity -providing strong, beneficial effects of stress alleviation and psychological relaxation.
Unfortunately, getting a facial is commonly seen as something you do only when you want to treat yourself, or as a luxury service whose benefits are reserved for only the rich and famous who can afford it. Lets face it; they can be a bit pricey. But take a moment to consider where your money is spent instead. Are facials really more expensive in the long run?
A staggering amount of pollution, dirt, grime, and dead skin accumulates on the face. This build up is an unavoidable fact of life. We can do the best we can to keep the skin clean, but it is not always enough. Many advocates compare getting a facial to going to the dentist. We brush our teeth, floss when we remember, and still acknowledge the importance of going to the dentist for a regular deep clean. Keeping up with dentist appointments saves us a lot of money down the road. A root canal is hundreds of dollars more than a regular cleaning. Like our teeth, the skin needs to be evaluated and cleansed by a trained professional every so often to maintain a healthy complexion. An esthetician should be seen as the dentist for our skin. Getting facials on a regular basis, even once every few months or year, will save you from needless spending in the future.
- Sinus pressure
As long as it’s not an infectious case or during an acute stage of sinusitis, you can use massage to relieve sinus pressure, discomfort, and congestion.
Sinus massage may also help promote the drainage of mucus, alleviate headaches, and boost circulation. More in-depth scientific studies are needed to confirm and expand on the effects of sinus pressure massage.
- Acne
Stimulating the skin through massage may help promote blood circulation and reduce the appearance of acne. Specific research that provides evidence of facial massage in improving acne is limited.
Some people swear by doing an olive oil massage to treat acne. Results vary, so if it’s something you’re interested in trying, test it out on a small area before massaging your entire face.
Don’t be too aggressive in your approach. Avoid any harsh motions or exfoliants, especially in sensitive areas.
- TMJ
People who have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) conditions may experience discomfort in the jaw or face. This can include headache, earache, or lockjaw.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, trigger point massage may help alleviate tight, inflamed, or painful jaw muscles. This discomfort may be due to chewing, jaw clenching, or teeth grinding.
Massage to relieve symptoms of TMJ may be especially effective when combined with jaw exercises.
- Glowing skin
Facial massage may be just the ticket if you want bright, glowing skin. Research from 2002 found that 59 percent of women who had a facial massage reported a feeling of freshness and rejuvenation.
About 54 percent reported supple skin, while 50 percent experienced skin tightening. Plenty of anecdotal evidence suggests that stimulating your facial muscles can help tighten skin, relieve tight muscles, and boost circulation.
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