Facial Cupping
I know what you are thinking - you’ve seen those red marks from cupping on people’s backs, so why would you want it anywhere on your face?!
Facial cupping is a little different, though the concept is the same. Cupping itself promotes blood circulation, creating space between the tissues allowing tense facial muscles to relax which helps reduce the furrow between your eyebrows. A study published by Biomedical Optics Express in 2020 reported that cupping therapy may be used for acne, facial paralysis, and other uses beyond relieving pain and soreness.
For the face, manual suction cups are often used rather than fire cupping. The cups stay on for about 5 minutes (rather than 15 minutes on the back) or we apply a face balm or oil and slowly glide the cups (moving cupping) along your jawline, cheekbones, forehead. Some redness may occur and usually subside in a few hours.
Facial Cupping brings blood to facial muscles which has many benefits such as:
Stimulating collagen and elastin production - minimizing the appearance of scars, fine lines and wrinkles
Sculpt, tone and lift the face/ neck
Prevent and treat acne, reduce acne scars
Want to try facial cupping?
Citations
Zhou Y, Cao F, Li H, Huang X, Wei D, Wang L, Lai P. Photoacoustic imaging of microenvironmental changes in facial cupping therapy. Biomed Opt Express. 2020 Apr 6;11(5):2394-2401. doi: 10.1364/BOE.387985. PMID: 32499932; PMCID: PMC7249831.
Al-Bedah AMN, Elsubai IS, Qureshi NA, Aboushanab TS, Ali GIM, El-Olemy AT, Khalil AAH, Khalil MKM, Alqaed MS. The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action. J Tradit Complement Med. 2018 Apr 30;9(2):90-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2018.03.003. PMID: 30963043; PMCID: PMC6435947.
