Is Gua Sha the Right Choice for Your Skin?

The Chinese medicine technique of gua sha has been around for centuries, and recently it's gotten renewed attention, but is it right for the health of your skin? This home remedy, which involves a type of skin scraping, is used for a number of health issues. Its use on facial skin and other areas of the body may be just the rejuvenation treatment you’re looking for.

The Original Uses of Gua Sha

During ancient times, gua sha was used to treat several types of ailments. As the practice evolved and continued to be used by Chinese medicine practitioners, the list of uses for the treatment expanded. Eventually, non-Chinese holistic medicine professionals started using gua sha as well. 

These professionals saw the benefits of scraping the skin with tools that could bring blood to the surface and revitalize the area in ways not seen with traditional medical practices. But it’s only been recently that locations across the world, from Paris to New York, have started using gua sha to rejuvenate skin and improve the look and feel of the face and other areas of the body.

Gua Sha is Muscle Relaxing and Skin Smoothing

Now, gua sha is being advertised as the next big thing in skincare rejuvenation. It’s used to move energy and blood to and from different areas of the body. By doing that, practitioners believe that skin can be healthier and more radiant. Gua sha may also benefit the lymphatic system, which could move more toxins out of the body and improve overall health. 

Not every medical practitioner believes in the practice of lymphatic drainage, but those who do say that gua sha works well for the purpose. The additional drainage of the lymphatic system may improve the feeling of wellness overall, along with making the skin look healthier and relaxing the muscles.

Runners and athletes may want to use gua sha to soothe sore muscles and keep their skin healthy and strong as well.

Improve Circulation and Remove Negative Energy with Gua Sha?

When the skin is scraped with the special tools used for gua sha, practitioners believe the scraping removes negative energy that has stagnated in those areas. It also increases circulation to the skin in that location, helping to heal any problematic issues with the skin the person may be facing there. Studies have shown that the practice of gua sha can increase microcirculation to areas where the skin has been scraped, emphasizing the value of the treatment. 

Light Pressure is the Best Choice for Gua Sha

When the skin is scraped, it can leave redness and bruising so this isn't something to try at home or to get from inexperienced practitioners. Facial gua sha is lighter and gentler than gua sha used on the body, too. But it's still important to choose a knowledgeable gua sha practitioner to reduce the chances of bruising or harm to the skin. That’s especially important if it’s facial gua sha because the skin on the face is much more delicate. While gua sha can be done at home, understanding how to do it safely and effectively is vital and may take some practice.

Make Sure to Understand the Risks of Gua Sha

While gua sha is very safe for the majority of people, some shouldn’t try the practice on their own. That includes people who have facial fillers or injections or those who have facial implants. Going to a knowledgeable holistic medical professional and making sure gua sha is done correctly and safely is very important. It’s important to avoid gua sha if you have any damaged or broken skin so you don’t aggravate the problem. 

Whether gua sha really works to rejuvenate skin and improve its health is still up for debate, and generally depends on who you ask. But for most people, there’s no reason not to try it and see if it provides the benefits they’re looking for—as long as you choose the practitioner wisely. It’s not harmful when done correctly, and you may see healthier skin and a more youthful look from the practice.

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