The Gua Sha tool has taken the beauty industry by storm thanks to its numerous skin benefits. Like the jade roller, beauty gurus and novices alike use this tool to depuff the skin and define the jaw and cheekbones. However, the question remains, is there any gua sha cellulite before and after difference?
This article will share the benefits of the gua sha tool to your skin and how it works. We'll also determine if gua sha treatments help reduce cellulite. Additionally, you'll learn how often you should use this handy tool and how to care for it and keep it clean.
Let's get started.
What is Gua Sha?
Most beauty revolutions have come from Asia, specifically Korea and China, from using safe and sustainable skincare to incorporating active ingredients to deal with acne and hyperpigmentation.
Gua Sha is a traditional healing technique originating from China and some parts of Korea and Japan. "Gua" means scrape and "Sha" means redness. This Chinese medicine method involves scraping the skin(also known as coining) to stimulate blood flow and eliminate waste and toxins in the skin.
Although Gua Sha therapy dates back thousands of years ago, this technique has slowly found its way to modern beauty. Apart from improving blood circulation on the skin, the Gua Sha technique reduces chronic pain and tension. Nowadays, most people would recommend something advanced like a Microcurrent Facial Massager.
Benefits of Gua Sha
i). Facial Gua Sha
One of the most popular uses of the Gua Sha tool is facial sculpting. Some of the benefits of using Gua Sha on your facial muscles include:
- Defining your jaw and cheekbones
- Reduce facial puffiness
- Hydrate inside the skin tissue
- Reduce the appearance of eye bags and dark circles
- Reduce wrinkles
- Reduces pore size
- Stimulates blood flow on the skin
- Enhances skin smoothness and promotes an even skin tone
- Promotes lymphatic drainage
ii). Body Gua Sha
Regular gua sha massage on your body can have a tonne of benefits. Using a gua sha stone increases blood flow to your skin, allowing more nutrients to enter and waste or toxins to be eliminated.
Other benefits to your body include:
- Improved blood circulation
- Enhances lymphatic drainage
- Reduces pain and tension
- Relaxes the body
- Enhances wound healing
- Brightens the skin
- Reduces cellulite
What Is Cellulite?
Yes, one of the benefits of the Gua Sha tool is cellulite reduction. But first, what exactly is cellulite?
Cellulite is the dimpling or bumps found on the skin, especially on the buttocks, hips, thighs and abdomen. Cellulite often occurs when fat cells push against the skin as the connective cords pull down to create a dimpling or bumpy surface.
Other factors leading to the development of cellulite include genetics, hormones, puberty, weight gain and an inactive lifestyle.
While cellulite is harmless, painless and does not cause any discomfort, seeing it on your body can bring different emotions. For this reason, you may want to reduce cellulite lines using Gua Sha tools.
How Does Gua Sha Work for Cellulite Reduction?
Anti-cellulite treatments are all over the market today, from creams to lotions and expensive laser treatments. However, cellulite continues to be a plague that affects different people's body image and self-esteem.
So, how does Gua Sha reduce cellulite?
There's not enough research to support this theory. However, this study found massage treatment to help reduce cellulite. Therefore, it all makes sense how Gua Sha massages can help get rid of cellulite.
Gua Sha massaging is not the same as a regular massage on self-care days. Instead, this traditional Chinese medicine technique uses a massage tool under moderate and mild pressure to scrape the skin's surface gently.
The Gua Sha massages boost microcirculation, improve your immune system and keep your lymphatic system on track. In addition, it reduces skin inflammation, body fat and even you guessed it, cellulite lines.
As the massages boost micro-circulation, your body releases toxins and built-up fluid retention. The excess fats and fluids are then replaced by nutrients in healthy foods. However, considering that reducing cellulite is tasking, it's important to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise to see results.
How To Use Gua Sha for Cellulite Lines
Now that you know Gua Sha is an inexpensive anti-cellulite treatment, it's essential to know how to use it on the facial skin and entire body to increase blood flow and reduce cellulite.
You can use Gua Sha tools on any part of the body where cellulite is present. However, remember that this treatment doesn't break down fats. Instead, it stretches and tightens the skin and connective tissue, releasing fat from your body.
Below are step-by-step instructions on using Gua Sha for cellulite lines reduction.
- Feel the part of the skin you want to treat with the Gua Sha for cellulite. Go over the area with your fingers to assess it.
- Apply your preferred massage oil on the skin. This will help the Gua Sha stone glide over the skin without being too rough.
- Ensure to apply the oil all over areas with cellulite.
- Gently scrape your skin in long upward strokes. This type of motion will increase blood flow, release muscle tension, enhance lymph drainage, reduce chronic pain and reduce inflammation.
- Repeat scraping about 6-8 times before moving to a different area. You can also stop scraping once you see a little redness on the skin.
It's advisable to use Gua Sha on light pressure and slowly work your way up to firm pressure as your body gets used to the tools. This is important as it ensures you reap the amazing benefits without hurting or harming your body.
Another tip that works well to reduce cellulite is dry brushing. This leads to increased blood flow and helps improve lymphatic drainage.
How Often Should You Use Gua Sha
Regularly using your Gua Sha for cellulite tool ensures that the cellulite doesn't come back. Ideally, it's advisable to use Gua Sha cellulite treatment 2-3 times a week.
This is because there's skin redness and inflammation after each treatment. Therefore, taking breaks ensures that the inflammation dies down and the overall pain is not severe.
Every person is different, meaning that some people can use this Gua Sha technique more often than others. However, skip the treatment whenever you experience irritation, pain, or redness.
Whether it's on your facial muscles or other body parts, it's advisable to keep up with regular Gua Sha massages even after the cellulite is gone. This ensures you maintain your newly-found looks and other benefits.
How to Clean Gua Sha Tools
It goes without saying that keeping your Gua Sha for cellulite clean and hygienic is paramount. The easiest way to do so is to clean with water and soap after every use. However, you can also use sea salt baths to clean the Gua Sha stone energetically.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Gua Sha help reduce cellulite?
Yes, regular Gua Sha massage helps to reduce cellulite on body parts like thighs, stomach and buttocks. This happens when the Gua Sha scrapes your skin, enhancing circulation in the blood vessels and removing toxins from your body. Your body dissolves fat and releases built-up fluid to reduce inflammation and cellulite.
2. How long will it take to note results with Gua Sha?
It takes at least a month to notice results from Gua Sha for cellulite. However, it's important that you stay consistent and use this treatment 2-3 times a week. In addition, you also want to maintain a healthy diet and an active lifestyle to keep your body healthy.
3. When are you not supposed to use Gua Sha?
While Gua Sha use has a lot of benefits to offer, there are times when using this tool can be harmful to your body. This includes when:
- You have wounds
- Dealing with sunburn
- You have a fungus infection
- You have skin cancer
- If you're sick
- Dealing with damaged skin
- You have swollen lymph nodes
- You have a fever
You should consult your doctor before using Gua Sha if you are taking medication, especially blood thinners. Other cases that would seek a doctor's approval first are if you have extra sensitive skin due to an illness, have a blood disorder, or are pregnant.
4. Does scraping get rid of cellulite?
Scraping, also known as coining, is another term used to refer to the Gua Sha treatment. That said, scraping does help get rid of cellulite since it's a form of massage. In addition to reducing cellulite, scraping will relieve pain, release stagnant energy and get you glowing skin.
5. Can you Gua Sha every day?
You can use Gua Sha daily, especially on the neck and facial muscles. While it's advisable to use this tool 2-3 times a week on your body, you can use it daily if you're not getting effects, such as petechiae, soreness, or bruising.
