Summer is coming to an end, but many of us are still in the middle of a heat wave! As the sun continues to shine bright, it’s crucial that we care for our skin. Skin is the human body’s largest organ, and if we’re showing a little more of it while trying to beat the heat, it’s important that it gets the TLC it deserves to prevent premature aging, skin cancer, and sunburns. We asked aesthetician, aromatherapist, and massage therapist Sally-Ann Hobart for her best advice on keeping our skin youthful, healthy, and balanced. With over 20 years of experience, Sally-Ann provides clients with stellar service, but also, the tools to maintain a do-able regimen at home. Read on for our new favorite facial technique, skin care tips, and tried and true SPF options.

What is a microcurrent facial?

It’s the practice of applying electrical low frequency stimulation to the face and neck over wrinkles, muscle origins, and selected acupuncture points, for the purpose of reducing signs of aging while enhancing the texture and tone of the skin. The tiny microcurrents are applied to the facial muscles to re-educate and lift the muscles back to their original position, basically “passive exercise” for the face, much like going to the gym regularly, if you do the work you reap the rewards and the same applies to this application, the muscles will eventually be re-educated back to their original position. Kinesiologists who are muscle specialists have demonstrated any muscle can be reprogrammed to accept or release its tone. The face has over 30 muscles that lie directly below and are connected to the skin’s surface. By correcting the sagging muscle this in turn corrects the sag of the skin. This treatment also stimulates blood circulation and lymph drainage, which helps improve muscle tone and counteract dryness. Skin tissue can also improve, such as acne scarring, blemishes, sun damage, dehydration, and problematic oily skin.

What are the benefits?

Microcurrent treatments will stimulate the circulation of energy to the facial muscles and tissues, increasing the rate that the skin produces proteins, such as collagen and elastin, and the rate in which muscle tissue can be reconstructed. It promotes total well being and relaxation. With this regular facial exercise program, skin will keep toned, texture will be healthy, and circulation will benefit too.

How many treatments are needed?

The number of treatments you do largely depends on the clients skin tissue and muscle tone, some clients respond quickly, others may need more. Those in their 20s and 30s who still have plenty of elastin and good facial contour can use this modality as a means of preventive care to slow the aging process. It’s recommended to receive regular treatments at first which are close together, an example would be to start with a couple of sessions per week for the first 6 sessions and thereafter once weekly until you have achieved optimum results, and then a monthly booster is recommended for maintenance.

Is it safe?

Microcurrent is approved by the FDA as a safe and painless treatment, however there are some contra-indications with microcurrent; it should be avoided if you are an active cancer patient, pregnant, have epilepsy or seizures, herpes outbreaks, bleeding areas, or extreme rosacea.

How to find the right specialist?

If you’re interested in finding a microcurrent specialist, we recommend you do some research. Online reviews and personal recommendations are excellent help as well. When seeking an expert, longevity and practice is essential. Look for a skincare veteran with some years under their belt, ask them questions and get a realistic treatment plan. Also, recognize that not every individual responds the same way to microcurrent, and some of us may need more sessions than others. It can be a great “pick me up” before special occasions, but if you desire lasting results, expect to invest in your skin with ongoing treatments.

Skin and Aging Factors

There are definitely some things to keep in mind when caring for your skin — here’s what you need to know:

Alcohol

Moderate intake isn’t a bad thing, but heavy alcohol intake dilates the blood vessels, weakening capillary walls and causes dehydration creating dull dry skin.

Tobacco

With tobacco you can expect premature aging and wrinkling — nicotine causes small blood vessels and capillaries to contract, decreasing blood flow to the skin and depriving it of essential nutrients and oxygen.

Sunlight

Over exposure is extremely harmful to the skin. The ultra-violet UVA and UVB rays of the sun, and worse yet, of tanning beds, penetrate the epidermis (top layer) of the skin as well as the dermis layers where they affect living cells. Keep in mind: regardless of rain or shine, the damaging UVA (aging) rays are still around and continue to cause substantial damage even without the burn.