How many times have you woken up with a swollen face, even though you’ve met your quota of zzz’s and are feeling great. One of the most common problems faced by women, it can arise from a variety of reasons, ranging from water retention to eating spicy foods with high levels of sodium, consuming alcohol the night before or even a cold. Allergies and sinusitis. A bloated look can make you nervous and stressed, especially if you have to attend an important meeting or social function. But there is a quick solution, which is painless; All you need are two simple tools – gua sha and an ice face roller. Dr Mansi Shirolikar, consultant dermatologist and founder of drmanasiskin.com, explains how to use them.
gua sha
Usually the facialist will use her fingers to massage you to reduce swelling. But gua sha tools are a notch higher here as they facilitate a deeper massage than just using fingers. It promotes blood circulation to help reduce skin inflammation. Despite claims of anti-aging and collagen enhancement, these devices primarily increase blood circulation, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the skin. This results in a noticeable improvement in skin health and reduction in inflammation and hence the tools provide a good massage effect.
ice roller
We have seen many celebrities using ice rollers. These are massaged onto the face, with claimed benefits such as tightening pores, reducing inflammation, increasing circulation, relieving headaches and reducing inflammation. These rollers can effectively reduce inflammation through vasoconstriction, making them suitable for red, painful acne. However, caution is needed for individuals suffering from rosacea, as ice cubes may cause flare-ups. Direct application of ice can also break small blood vessels, appearing as red spots that are challenging to treat and may cause discoloration. The benefits obtained from these tools are temporary and are recommended once a week, while gua sha can be done daily or every other day. For those using gua sha, it is recommended to combine it with a serum or facial oil.
These devices should not be relied upon exclusively for skin care needs as consistent use of a regular skin care routine is necessary. While a reduction in swelling and improvement in blood circulation is possible, these results are transient. There is also no scientific evidence supporting the notion that facial massage, including gua sha or ice rollers, significantly promotes lymphatic drainage.
