Hold the Needles: the Beauty Benefits of Acupressure Written by Rachelle Dupree, marketing, communication, and design at Vivoderm Natural Skincare, published in Dermascope Magazine, July 2018 © https://www.dermascope.com/digital/July/ https://www.dermascope.com/wholistic/9525-hold-the-needles-the-beauty-benefits-of-acupressure In recent years, acupressure and acupuncture have moved from a little-known, holistic health practice to a proven, mainstream, medical treatment. Acupressure (much like acupuncture, but without using needles) is a 5,000-year-old Chinese medical practice used to relieve pain, reduce stress, and promote health and wellness through unblocking or stimulating certain meridians (or Qi) found all over the body and face. Treating the acupoints of the face promotes the flow of Qi and increases blood flow throughout the skin, while helping to remove toxins. Cosmetic acupressure can help the face look healthier from the inside out. Acupressure relies on the same system of channels and points as acupuncture, stimulating the points by applying gentle pressure on specific areas of the face or body instead of inserting needles. Acupressure is safe, effective, and easy to learn, making it a wonderful addition to any facial treatment. Massaging trigger points is simple, soothing, and will help with all types of facial concerns – from reducing fine lines to diminishing stagnation or edema – by bringing skin into better balance by increasing oxygenation and blood flow. Do not worry about locating exact points of pressure. The face and scalp are rich with trigger points and any point that is tender should receive extra attention. Always start with singular pressure for approximately 30 to 60 seconds, followed by small, circular motions around the designated area. Adding a few drops of a favorite essential oil to the facial massage oil or skin care product can also create an extra rejuvenating and fragrant experience. First, place a few drops of essential oil into the palms and rest the cupped hands over the client’s nose to inhale for aromatherapy benefits before the pressure point massage. Begin with a quick, soothing, all-over facial massage, including the neck and clavicle area in uplifting, gentle strokes. Third Eye Point The “third eye” is one of the most common acupressure points, found exactly in between the eyebrows, where the bridge of the nose meets the forehead. Apply mild pressure on this point with the index finger for 60 seconds. This area, and the surrounding eye area, is directly related to the endocrine or pituitary gland and will improve skin texture, reduce inflammation, and improve overall…

Written by Rachelle Dupree for Dermascope Magazine, February 2018 © https://www.dermascope.com/treatments/cellulite-uncovered-homecare-and-medical-spa-treatments Though a new wave of body positivity has emerged embracing women of all shapes and sizes, the sentiments surrounding cellulite are largely unchanged – it is still seen as undesirable. Store shelves are lined with products promising to diminish the appearance of dimpling. Medical spas offer treatments boasting longer-lasting results. But, will there ever be a cure? Cellulite is a modern condition that has created more confusion than answers. Researching basic information about the topic can result in a myriad of conflicting data. Medical professionals believe cellulite is a non-issue, albeit unsightly. Due to the unsightly nature of the condition, spa treatments, creams, and claims on its causes and cures abound. Cellulite, which is not to be confused with cellulitis or celluloid, has been classified medically with a variety of nomenclature, including adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy. The suffix ‘ite’ usually refers to inflammation in medicinal vernacular, so the term “cellulite” is technically incorrect; it is, however, widely used and accepted by physicians and the general population. In basic terms, cellulite is the extrusion of fat pockets through layers of fascia or connective tissue just under the dermis that can be seen through the top most epidermal layer, creating skin puckering and dimpling. This effect often occurs on the hips, buttocks, and abdomen. Cellulite occurs in most post-pubescent females and among 85 to 98 percent of women, indicating that it is physiological rather than pathological. It can result from a complex combination of factors ranging from hormones to heredity. AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY Historically, the concept and naming of cellulite has only been around for the last century, when a number of early European clinicians all tried their hand at describing and identifying the anatomy and histology of fat. In the 1920s, French physicians Alquier and Paviot described “cell-u-leet” as a “non-inflammatory cellular disorder of mesodermal origin.” In 1973, cellulite became a household term, thanks mostly to Nicole Ronsard’s best-selling book, “Cellulite: Those Lumps, Bumps, and Bulges You Couldn’t Lose Before.” Following this book, the idea of cellulite officially entered culture as a new dermatological condition. Perhaps it was this new dermatological focus that brought the lumpy, bumpy skin into light. But, more likely, it is a result of the fact that the modern, western woman has been baring more skin in the past century than ever…