A Holistic Approach to Microneedling in Millcreek SLC
The Holistic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Dermatology approach to Microneedling differs from the Western approach. Acupuncturists have been performing a style of microneedling called Plum Blossom Needles for thousands of years. In general, the Eastern approach is more gentle and cautious - particularly around doing procedures that introduce more inflammation to the body.
From the perspective of Holistic TCM:
Microneedling is performed with specific products (East Asian herbs & pharmacognosy) that restore the skin and mitigate excessive inflammation. These herbs have an ancient history in Asia in maintaining and healing skin.
Microneedling is never done in tandem with treatments that further trigger inflammation (chemical peels etc) as this increases skin aging and the occurrence of hyperpigmentation.
Microneedling standard depth is less than what a Western Practitioner has (historically) been trained to do. Skin Cells are rejuvenated at a depth of .5 mm.
Melanocytes are addressed in the deeper layers. When treating Sun Spots and Melasma, a practitioner will needle more deeply and use specialized Asian Beauty products that have been used for centuries to create “porcelain skin.”
To rejuvenate the musculature and improve blood flow in the deepest structures of the face, Facial Acupuncture is recommended. In this way, there is not the overstimulation of inflammation due to excessive puncturing. This ensures longevity of skin health.
In TCM, inflammation is understood as heat. Heat is a yang condition and healing is a yang process. Healing requires the energy of cellular activity. Cellular activity is heat - energy - life force. But what is healed, the skin, is considered Yin - the physical or substantial nature. Within this paradigm it is understood that excess heat burns out yin. This translates to an understanding that Excess Inflammation burns out the Physical Foundation of Skin Health. In other words, if you create damage to the skin (Yin) then your body must create more yang (healing) energy. Our cells have a limited lifespan so burning out yin, shortens the lifespan of the cells or skin. For this reason, it is a gentle approach to ensure better long-term results.
Holistic TCM Dermatology provides a comprehensive treatment strategy that goes beyond symptomatic relief. It promotes long-term health and wellness because of the holistic view of skin health and seeing the body in an integrated way. TCM describes symptoms from an understanding of “root” disorders. For example: Dryness is a symptom or a “branch.” The “root” of the dryness could be due to deficiency of Kidney Energy, or Blood Dryness, or Heat in the Stomach, just to name a few. This is differential diagnosis. With this understanding, topical and internal herbs are chosen to address that underlying condition and not just the symptom of dryness.
In addition to topical treatments for skin rejuvenation, you may be prescribed a protocol of herb formulas that address your constitution and provide your body with the components it needs to produce healthier skin cells. For example: As we age, our body produces less estrogen or yin. Estrogen is needed for the production of collagen and this is why our skin begins to sag and joint problems develop. The western approach is to prescribe hormones (HRT). Some people absolutely require this type of intervention. But many people do not understand that there is a different approach in Eastern Medicine that seeks to provide the body with what it needs to improve it’s own mechanisms of healing. There are herbs used by TCM practitioners for the diagnosis of yin deficiency that are known to be estrogenic.
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