Acupuncture for Facial & Cosmetic Conditions

Acupuncture for Facial & Cosmetic Conditions.

Conditions affecting the face can be greatly distressing and impact the quality of life of those affected. Facial paralysis and Bell's palsy, trigeminal neuralgia and temporomandibular disorders causing jaw pain and tension are common conditions which can be treated by acupuncture.

While injectables, lasers, and surgical interventions have traditionally been used to reverse the changes associated with facial ageing, therapies such as facial acupuncture are now being studied for facial rejuvenation. Reviews of data from clinical studies suggest that facial acupuncture has the potential to improve skin elasticity, wrinkle length, muscle thickness, and pigment changes associated with ageing.

What does the research say?

The following insights are obtained from systematic reviews and analysis of clinical trials investigating the efficacy of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for facial & cosmetic conditions.

Consult with our practitioners for personalised care and advice.

Although well-conducted clinical research can help members of the public to make better-informed decisions about their healthcare, we cannot claim that any particular treatment may be effective for any individual person.

When you consult with our Chinese medicine practitioners, you'll receive personalised advice and treatment based on your symptoms and Chinese medicine diagnosis.

Scientific References

Browse our collection of scientific clinical research on acupuncture for facial & cosmetic conditions.

It includes recent and reputable papers published by peer-reviewed journals within the last 10 years.



Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research

2022, Jul 13

Can Acupuncture be an Adjunct Therapy for Bell’s palsy Post COVID-19? Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy: A Review
Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research

Our review suggest that Acupuncture can be an adjunct or a good alternate therapy for patients with Bell’s palsy post recovery of COVID-19 infection and especially those with the risk of predisposed factor for mucormycosis and other severe health complication.

Yepthomi T, Somanadhapai S Full Article

Complementary Therapies in Medicine

2022, Aug

Auricular acupuncture in TMD — A sham-controlled, randomized, clinical trial
Complementary Therapies in Medicine

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that auricular acupuncture (AA) applied at a specific temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ear point was able to bring about improvements in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), with outcomes similar to those in patients treated with an occlusal splints (OS).

Aroca JP, Cardoso PMF, Favarão J, Zanini MM, Camilotti V, Busato MCA, Mendonça MJ, Alanis LRA Full Article

Cosmetics

2020, Feb 12

Non-Traditional and Non-Invasive Approaches in Facial Rejuvenation: A Brief Review
Cosmetics

Data from these studies suggest that both facial acupuncture and facial exercises have the potential to improve the skin laxity, wrinkle length, muscle thickness, and pigmentary changes associated with aging. Patients frequently reported improvement and experienced very few side effects. However, further research is necessary before these modalities are widely accepted as effective by the medical community, though the results of these studies may ultimately make providers less hesitant when patients seek out these services.

M. Smith, A. Ferris, T. K. Nahar, V. Sharma, M. Full Article

Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment

2020, Dec

Long-Term Beneficial Effects of Acupuncture with Reduced Risk of Depression Development Following Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment

The systematic review and meta-analysis also concluded that the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture is highly effective alone and combined with antidepressant medication.

Liao CC, Lin CL, Liao KR, Li JM Full Article

Revista Internacional de Acupuntura

2020, Jul

Acupuncture therapy in trigeminal neuralgia: An integrative literature review
Revista Internacional de Acupuntura

This literature review indicated the decrease frequency and intensity of TN pain episodes in acupuncture patients.

Aquino I, Nascimento M, Aquino T, Kosminsky M Full Article

Journal of Oral Rehabilitation

2020, Mar 09

Comparison of acupuncture on specific and non‐specific points for the treatment of painful temporomandibular disorders: A randomised controlled trial
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation

Acupuncture on both specific and non-specific points reduces the non-dysfunctional pain of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). patients. The effect of acupuncture on painful TMD cannot be attributed to the specific point selection.

Åžen S, Orhan G, Sertel S, Schmitter M, Schindler HJ, Lux CJ, Giannakopoulos NN Full Article

Acupuncture in Medicine

2019, Sep 09

The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for patients with atopic eczema: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Acupuncture in Medicine British Medical Acupuncture Society

Acupuncture is effective in reducing itch intensity and may be more beneficial than conventional medicine at reducing eczema symptoms. This study assessed the effectiveness and showed positive results from randomised controlled trials.

Jiao R, Yang Z, Wang Y, Zhou J, Zeng Y, Liu Z Full Article

Journal of Cosmetic Medicine

2018, Dec 31

Acupuncture for cosmetic use: a systematic review of prospective studies
Journal of Cosmetic Medicine Korean Society of Korean Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine

This systematic review suggests that a few trials regarding acupuncture for cosmetic use have incorporated rigorous designs. Although the studies reported generally positive results with tolerable safety, the methodology of the trials should be updated in a rigorous manner, including the use of randomized, sham-controlled studies with standardized interventions, in order to provide sufficient evidence regarding the effects of cosmetic acupuncture.

Byung-Cheul Shin & Kyeong-Tae Lim Full Article

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

2017, Dec

Acupuncture (針灸 Zhēn Jiǔ) – An Emerging Adjunct in Routine Oral Care
Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan

This article highlights the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing dental pain (eg. TMJ.facial paralysis) and lower risk of oral diseases.

Gupta, D., Dalai, D., Swapnadeep, Mehta, P.D., Indra, B., Rastogi, S., Jain, A., Chaturvedi, M., Sharma, S., Singh, S., Gill, S., Singh, N., & Gupta, R. (2014). Acupuncture (針灸 Zhēn Jiǔ) – An Emerging Adjunct in Routine Oral Care. Journal of Tradi Full Article

Medicine

2017, Mar

Acupuncture therapy in the management of the clinical outcomes for temporomandibular disorders
Medicine

The result of this article indicate that acupuncture is effective in reducing the degree of pain in patients with TMD, especially those with myofascial pain symptoms

Wu, Jun-Yi MD; Zhang, Chao MD; Xu, Yang-Peng MM; Yu, Ya-Yu MD; Peng, Le PhD; Leng, Wei-Dong PhD; Niu, Yu-Ming PhD; Deng, Mo-Hong PhD Full Article

Neurology

2015, May 8

Effects of Acupuncture on Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Neurology American Academy of Neurology

The majority of trials demonstrate a positive effect of acupuncture over control condition in the treatment of neuropathy. Further more rigorously designed studies are needed to better characterize this effect.

Alexandra Dimitrova, Charles Murchison, Barry Oken Full Article

Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies

2015, Sep

Acupuncture as a treatment modality in dermatology: a systematic review
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Medical Association of Pharmacopuncture Institute

The study indicated that acupuncture had statistically significant in treatment of dermatitis, chloasma, pruritus, urticaria, hyperhidrosis, and facial elasticity. Acupuncture was also more effective compared to other alternative therapies.

Ma, C., & Sivamani, R. K. Full Article

PLOS One

2015, May 14

Efficacy of Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
PLOS One Public Library of Science

This review suggests that acupuncture may be an effective therapy for Bell’s palsy compared to drug therapy, but there was insufficient evidence to support the efficacy and safety of acupuncture.

Li, P., Qiu, T., & Qin, C. Full Article

The Clinical Journal of Pain

2010, Jul

Acupuncture in the treatment of pain in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
The Clinical Journal of Pain

The results of this meta-analysis suggest that acupuncture is a reasonable adjunctive treatment for producing a short-term analgesic effect in patients with painful TMD symptoms. Although the results described are positive, the relevance of these results was limited by the fact that substantial bias was present. These findings must be confirmed by future RCTs that improve the methodologic deficiencies of the studies evaluated in this meta-analysis.

La Touche R, Goddard G, De-la-Hoz JL, Wang K, Paris-Alemany A, Angulo-Díaz-Parreño S, Mesa J, Hernández M Full Article

Evidence-Based Dentistry

2010, Oct 7

Limited evidence that acupuncture is effective for treating temporomandibular disorders
Evidence-Based Dentistry British Dental Association

This systematic review highlighted that acupuncture is effective in alleviating pain and masseter muscle tenderness in TMD.

Jens C Türp Full Article

Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies

2010, Dec

Acupuncture for treating temporomandibular disorder: retrospective study on safety and efficacy
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Medical Association of Pharmacopuncture Institute

This article not just highlight the importance of acupuncture in relieving pain for TMJ disorders. It also showcase how acupuncture reduces stress and sleep quality, factors that have been demonstrated as risk factors for TMD and pain in general.

Noiman M, Garty A, Maimon Y, Miller U, Lev-Ari S. Full Article


Yin Tang
“It is by virtue of the twelve channels that human life exists, that disease arises, that human beings can be treated and illness cured. The twelve channels are where beginners start and masters end.” The Classic of Acupuncture
Circa 1st Century BCE