Cupping for Acne

Cupping, a favorite of mine, is highly effective for cystic acne. In Traditional Chinese Medicine acne is often caused by heat, dampness, and stagnation, and cupping is effective at reducing heat and moving stagnation. Cupping is performed by depressurizing the inside of the cup with a flame or a vacuum, so it then lifts up the skin below it. Traditionally cupping works to increase circulation and remove heat from the body, and is used for a wide range of conditions including stress, muscle pain, arthritis, chest colds and fevers, and even some skin conditions.

Plastic and glass are the most common materials used today. Cupping therapy types can be classified into four main categories.

1. Technical Types

• Dry
• Wet
• Massage
• Flash Cupping

2. Power of Suction

• Light
• Medium
• Strong 

3. Method of Suction

• Fire
• Manual Suction
• Electrical suction 

4. Materials Inside Cups

• Herbal
• Water
• Ozone
• Needle 
• Magnetic cupping

Cups may range in size from 1 to 3 inches in diameter.

Dry cupping commonly involves creating a small area of low air pressure next to the skin. The low air pressure required may be created by heating the cup or the air inside it with an open flame or a bath in hot scented oils, then placing it against the skin. As the air inside the cup cools, it contracts and draws the skin slightly inside. More recently, vacuum is created with a mechanical suction pump acting through a valve located at the top of the cup.

Fire cupping, my favorite (pictured), involves soaking a cotton ball in alcohol, then clamping it by a pair of forceps, setting it on fire and, in one motion, placing into the cup and quickly removing. Then, the cup is placed on the skin. Fire heats the inside of the cup and a small amount of suction is created by the air cooling down and contracting. Massage oil may be applied to create a better seal as well as allow the cups to glide over muscle groups in an act called "moving cupping". Immediately after, dark circles will appear where the cups were placed because of rupture of the capillaries just under the skin. 

Wet cupping, or Hijama, is performed by letting the area under the cup fill with “bad” dark blood. The cups are applied to the skin using the fire or suction method, and left to cling to the skin for a few minutes, then it is lifted off and several very small incisions are made in the skin. The cup is then put back as it was before until the flow of blood subsides. Hijama is considered a form of energy medicine because it has been claimed to "unclog" purported meridians in the body.

When treating inflammatory conditions, such as acne, the goal is to remove heat and toxins. This is generally done through cupping on the back, even if the acne is on the face or chest.

There are a number of small studies and reports for cupping alone or in combination with other therapies that have been successful for treating acne, particularly for inflammatory and cystic acne. In TCM, it is very common to combine cupping with other modalities such as acupuncture or herbal medicine. 

A meta-analysis of cupping concluded that cupping alone or in combination with herbal interventions is more effective than herbal interventions alone, and cupping combined with acupuncture was found to have a trend toward being more effective than acupuncture alone. A study that examined cupping found that 10 out of 11 people with acne had improvement in their symptoms. In these patients, cupping also reduced inflammatory chemicals circulating in the blood.

Determine your Skin Type and Choose the Best Daily Routine!

Our skin is in its most natural state upon waking in the morning. Take a look at your skin when you first wake up. If you see oils only on the tip of the nose, but overall dryness, then you have dry skin. Oils on the T-zone usually signify normal skin, oils all over the face, accompanied by blemishes often signify acneic skin.

Each client’s skin has unique needs, so selecting the right products is very important. There are many types of cleansers available on the market, and there is no one perfect product for all. Typically, older clients have dry skin and prefer milky cleansers because they don’t strip the skin of natural oils, and moisturize as they clean. Younger clients may prefer a foamy cleanser, which makes the face feel “squeaky clean” and tight. Different cleansers are made with ingredients added specifically to treat certain skin types. For example, aloe and chamomile are added to soothe sensitive skin, salicylic and AHA to treat oily, and acne-prone skin. 

Applying serum is essential if you want to target wrinkles, and deliver active ingredients deep into the skin. Serums have small water-based molecules that penetrate the skin, and go to work reducing fine lines, and crow's feet. For everyone over 30, select a serum with peptides if you are worried about wrinkles, a serum with alpha arbutin if you are trying to get rid of hyper pigmentation, and a serum with collagen boosting Trilogen, if you want to plump and firm inelastic skin. 

Applying moisturizer is essential after serum application. This step ensures that the serum doesn't evaporate, and provides a double layer of anti-aging peptides. Choose a light moisturizer to allow the skin to breathe, such as a hyaluronic peptide crème, or an antioxidant leave-on mask at night.

The most important step in the evening is washing the face thoroughly! My nighttime regimen is very simple - it doesn’t matter how tired I am at the end of the day, I always wash off my make-up, apply my hyaluronic acid/peptide serum (I use SAIAN Active renewal serum) to the face and neck, and tie back my hair to avoid breakouts caused by hair product residue touching the sides of the face.

Hyaluronic Acid Supplements and their Benefits

Hyaluronic Acid supports the structure of connective tissue by acting as a water magnet to maintain extra-cellular fluidity. HA forms a viscous fluid with exceptional lubricating properties necessary for the vital functions of many parts of the human body including the skin, heart valves, aqueous/vitreous portion of the eye and synovial fluid (joint cushion and lubricant). The skin contains over 50% of the body’s HA. Considering that skin is over 70% water and renews itself more frequently than most other bodily tissues, HA is absolutely vital for its structure and daily maintenance. Skin is constantly involved in cellular renewal and repair because of daily exposure to solar radiation, pressure, heat, trauma and minor wounds.

Our bodies are in a continual state of rebuilding. New skin cells replace old ones about every 20 to 30 days. Normally, HA in skin tissue is broken down by an enzyme called Hyaluronidase at a precise rate. The rate of HA degradation can be increased by excess intake of riboflavin (B-2), ultraviolet radiation exposure and viruses. Any long-term overexposure to any of these may result in premature connective tissue breakdown, resulting in skin damage. Considering that 10-150 mg’s of HA is normally metabolized or excreted daily, with a higher rate of loss in persons over 50, it may make sense for older adults to begin supplementing with one 50 mg capsule three times daily to maintain equilibrium.

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"You can't be everything to everyone."

I had a favorite marketing professor in college, who once said something that stuck with me, and resonated deeply within my being. "You can't be everything to everyone." I always repeat this affirmation when I am feeling lonely, down, not worthy enough, anxious, or disappointed. There are billions of people on this glorious planet, billions of beautiful, talented, intelligent, and successful people. No matter how famous, interesting, sexy, fit, talented, rich, popular, or successful you you are, there is someone who may have surpassed you in the eyes of another, and that is OK. 

When I remind myself of this, I feel a relief, as if a weight is lifted off my shoulders. How great it feels to know that I don't need to compare myself to others to feel good about myself! How easy it is to work when I know I don't need to be as big as some brands or as rich as some businesspeople, or as beautiful as a some women to be the center of my own thriving universe. 

I release any resentment towards those who didn't want to date me, I release any resentment towards those who didn't befriend me. Those who are with me are with me for a reason, and I am grateful for having this awareness, to keep me balanced, and alive!

5 Ways to Improve Your Kid's Childhood Experience, and Teach Kindness

Everything I have learned in life has been a stepping stone to my current state of well-being, prosperity and balance. I am a constant learner, and am always open to self-improvement, even now, as an adult. Children get most of their ideas about themselves and the world around them by what the adults in their life say and do, so it is important to be fully aware of the message you are giving to your little ones. In this short blog entry, I will give you some wonderful ways to nourish and encourage your children's creativity, promote kindness, and engage in positive activities that you both will enjoy and treasure as cherished moments! I do these activities now, as an adult, so this will be excellent advice for people of all ages.

1. Cook Something Healthy

Making healthy food daily is an absolute must in my life - my food nourishes my mind and body. Give your children a chance to participate in food preparation, and they will take responsibility and pride in their task. Small tasks such as washing the veggies or ripping lettuce leaves for the salad allow your kids to feel like they have contributed to making the meal, and teach them how to become efficient and autonomous. Sharing food is a beautiful way to show love and care, and I often make enough food for my family, as well as the neighbors. My neighbor is a doctor, and works late, so I often invite her for dinner. I also have an elderly woman on the cul-de-sac, and I feel that it is a privilege for me to bring her food. A wonderful weekend activity is making sandwiches for the homeless, and passing them out. Make food with love, share food with loved ones, and teach your children to share and care.

2. Make Bird Friends

I currently live in a house with a large back yard, but I have grown up in an apartment, and have learned to live comfortably and efficiently in a small, urban space. I have a dog and a cat whom I love very much, but if your living conditions don't allow for pets, this advice will be wonderful. It can be challenging for parents to tell their kids they can't have pets because of space or time constrictions, so a great alternative is to hang up hummingbird feeders filled with nectar, and watch these lovely beauties come to sip their sweet nectar. Here is a photo I took yesterday of the bird flying up to drink - they are truly majestic, and therapeutic. Making the nectar is easy - it's a 1-cup sugar to 4-cup water ratio. Simply bring this mixture to a boil, cool, and pour into the feeder. I make enough for the week, and store the rest in the fridge - it's much more convenient, also. This is a wonderful activity to do with the kids - they will love it! Another great idea is to put out feed for the larger birds, especially if you have colorful birds in your neighborhood, like I do. I buy bird feed in bulk, and put it out for them in the flat bowl feeder I have in the back yard. It's great to know that even little creatures can benefit from your kind gesture.

3. Grow Something
Buy a plant that the child will have the responsibility to water. If you have a chance to start a small
garden together, there is nothing more fun than digging in the dirt while taking care of your vegetables or flowers! Children will take great responsibility in doing their part to water veggies, or flowers, and proudly display their labor when it is time to harvest! This is a great activity that will beautify the home, and will also teach the child the values of farm-to-table lifestyle.

4. Volunteer
Lending a helping hand to others is a divine privilege, and a task that will not only fill your children's heart with joy, but will serve as a wonderful reminder of how important each and every one of us is on this planet. I've been caring for my grandmother for the past few years, and one day I thought of
the countless number of elderly people who spend their lives at retirement homes, and rarely get visitors. I went to the dollar store, and picked up puzzles, coloring books, crossword puzzles, crayons, beads, glue, and a couple of poster boards, and showed up at a retirement home. The feeling of joy these wonderful elders experienced made me so happy! Your children will enjoy interacting with elders, and vice versa! I volunteer with kids at an orphanage in Mexico, and the days spent with them have been as rewarding for me, as they have been for them. Gratitude and appreciation creates children who mature into appreciative and self-sufficient adults.

5. Help the Homeless

Vacation season is approaching, and many of us will travel with our families. I frequently travel for work, and spend a third of the month in a hotel room, but since my company manufactures skincare, I bring my own products with me.  Did you know that you are paying daily for the toiletries in your hotel room, and they are yours to use and take? Give your children the task of collecting all unused shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and small toothpastes each day, and putting them away into their suitcase. In six months to a year, the child will have a large box of travel-sized items to donate to the local homeless shelter/mission. These small toiletries may seem like meaningless items to most people, but every little bit counts for the less fortunate. I regularly send monetary donations to charities, but since children don't have the financial ability to help, teaching them to help in this way will get them on the path to sharing and giving. When generosity becomes second nature, so do gratitude and abundance.

Be well, live abundantly, and give abundantly!

Gratitude

Gratitude thinking brings balance and prosperity, so take a moment and give thanks for your health, your job, your well-wishing friends, your loving pets, and everything else that makes you happy! Writing makes me happy, and what makes me even more happy, is being a frequent contributor to one of my favorite Esthetic Trade magazines - Dermascope! If you wish to read some of my recent articles, please do so here: http://saian.net/articles/