- Share This Post
- 0
- submit
- 0
-
Sparkle (0)
You may have noticed that Neutrogena, Aveeno, and RoC are promoting products that claim to build collagen and restore elasticity to the skin using an electric charge that is created when you apply their products to your skin. Using electricity to stimulate collagen production and restore the skin’s youthful appearance isn’t a new concept in the skincare world. What is new are the home care products that claim to do the same thing as a microcurrent facial.
Microcurrent Facial Treatments
In her new book Complexion Perfection! esthetician to the stars Kate Somerville explains that a microcurrent skincare treatment involves the use of two sets of prongs which are applied to the face and emit very small electrical impulses that mimic the naturally occurring electrical impulses in the body. This triggers a chemical reaction that then encourages the body to product more collagen and elastin.
Additionally, Somerville writes that the microcurrent brings oxygen to the skin cells, increases circulation in the skin, and lifts facial muscles back into place. Somerville says that the results of such treatments are immediate and cumulative. Eventually, she claims, if you get enough of these treatments you will have toned and elastic skin.
Not everyone agrees with these assessments. In a February, 2010 Elle magazine article entitled Fight Aging by Healing Damaged Skin dermatologist Dr. Alexa Kimball says that Somerville’s claims that microcurrent treatments help create collagen and enhance circulation are very hard to evaluate. Furthermore, Dr. Kimball says that the idea that muscle contractions are helpful in restoring the skin’s youthful appearance is also likely incorrect since, for example, an anti-aging treatment like Botox works by stopping muscle contractions.
If anyone has tried professional microcurrent treatments please feel free to comment below about your experience.
Microcurrent or Bioelectricity Home Skincare Products
So how do the new home care products work that claim to use electricity to stimulate collagen and elastin production and help slow down the aging process?
Dr. Leslie Baumann explains in her Yahoo! Health blog The Skin Guru that:
Collagen and elastin are proteins in skin that diminish as we get older. Collagen is like scaffolding that gives skin its structure and keeps wrinkles from forming, while elastin is more like a spring-without it, skin loses its ability to bounce back and starts to sag.
For quite some time, dermatologists have known that collagen production can be stimulated topically with glycolic acid, vitamin C and retinoids, but there have been very few products proven to promote production of elastin. Electric stimulation may be the answer.
To finish reading this post please go to my blog: http://askanesthetician.wordpress.com
