making natural cosmetics

It’s so often overlooked, but one of my number 1 anti-ageing tips is simply to drink enough water. Loss of hydration can affect the skin in a variety of ways, such as flakiness, tightness and dryness. Dry skin is particularly more prone to fine lines and wrinkles.

Drinking sufficient water is also important for removal of waste from the body. If the volume of fluid is decreased, then the body finds it much more difficult to remove toxins. This can result in the body attempting to expel them through the skin, which can in-turn exacerbate conditions such as eczema and acne.

Medik8 do a fantastic Hydr8 range, which I use in my Facial Enhancement Acupuncture and Micro Needle Therapy treatments, featuring Moisture Magnets™ "a proprietary trademarked blend of humectants that significantly increases the level of skin hydration." These products highlight the need for hydration in maintaining smoother, younger looking skin. They’re fantastic as part of a treatment and in your day-to-day regime but, first-and-foremost, I always recommend that my clients maintain an adequate intake of water throughout the day.

So how much is adequate? The recommended daily amount of water is 8 glasses a day, but that’s been subject to a lot of criticism. As with everything, we’re all unique and different people may require different levels of water depending on the local climate, activity, type of job, age, sex, weight, food intake, alcohol etc.

I always complete a full history at the start of a Facial Enhancement Acupuncture treatment and I’m able to use the information derived from this to establish whether a couple more glasses a day may benefit my client’s health and their skin. One suggestion could be that your patient drinks enough to ensure that their urine is mostly clear.

Personally, I use a distiller in my clinic, as I believe this is preferable to tap water. So, the quality of water is important to think about too.

As acupuncturists, looking at a client’s diet and lifestyle will already be integral and these skills can be incorporated into your cosmetic treatments, ensuring we’re always working from the inside out.

Paul Adkins Lic.Ac.,BA(Hons), 1st Dan, FEA, MBAcC, MCAUK, MMNTUK - Member of the British Acupuncture Council

Founder - Facial Enhancement Acupuncture

I'm excited to introduce the fantastic new FACIALENHANCE Dermal Pen treatment to my Micro Needle Therapy protocol.

The FACIALENHANCE Dermal Pen is an electronic needling device that uses multiple needles to pierce the skin to help with skin rejuvenation.

The vibrating needles mean that skin needling is now faster, more effective and is less of a discomfort to the client.

Skin needling can give the same results as more intrusive treatments such as laser, Fraxel and chemical peels, but at a fraction of the cost and with less downtime.

As it glides across the face, the Dermal Pen's gentle vibrational movement stimulates natural collagen and creates tiny channels in the surface of the skin. These channels greatly optimise the absorption of the high-grade professional serums used during your client's treatment. This allows for 80% more of the topical nutrients to reach the dermis and basal layer than in a normal facial treatment.

The FACIALENHANCE Dermal Pen is a mains powered precision medical instrument, with a strong, yet lightweight metal construction. It can be easily adjusted to alter the sterile, disposable needle head's depth. A range of 0.25 - 2.0mm can be achieved to allow the insertion of the 12 micro needles to be varied, depending on the treatment areas targeted. The design of the Dermal Pen means it fits into the hand comfortably and is easy to operate.

We have a very special introductory offer that combines purchase of the Dermal Pen with comprehensive online or masterclass training in Micro Needle Therapy, including dermal roller techniques.

Visit our website for full details of the options available to qualified acupuncturists and to purchase your Dermal Pen today.

Paul Adkins Lic.Ac.,BA(Hons), 1st Dan, FEA, MBAcC, MCAUK, MMNTUK - Member of the British Acupuncture Council

Founder - Facial Enhancement Acupuncture

It's not always a point that you would think of using, but ST4 'Earth Granary' is a great point to help lift the face.

The point's location can be used to trigger the zygomatic major muscle and is part of my Facial Enhancement Acupuncture protocol for this reason, but it has the additional benefit of the applications listed below, which can be particularly useful when treating Bell's Palsy:

Point Location: 0.4 cun lateral to the corner of the mouth, directly below the pupil.

Functions: Expels wind, activates the channel, alleviates pain.

Applications: Facial paralysis, deviation of the mouth, toothache, neuralgia, night blindness.

N.B. Our list of 5 Element point names and location images can be found in the archives of the Members' Area within The 5 Element Acupuncture Network.

"Hi Paul - Just wanted to say a huge thank you for ridding me of my beastly acne rosacea. My doctor told me I would have to learn to live with it but thanks to you I have been clear for 5 years. I only tried it as a last resort - what a success story!" Lesley

I recently received this lovely testimonial and I have to say it really made my week. It also reinforced how wonderful facial acupuncture is and what a difference it can make to people both inside and out.

You may have treated patients with rosacea in your own practice. If so, you'll know how this chronic skin condition can make them feel. Generally, it begins, between the ages of 30-60, as redness on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin and can develop into red bumps and pustules. This, understandably, can greatly lower self-esteem and self-confidence.

A survey by the National Rosacea Society discovered that the highest trigger was sun exposure, closely followed by emotional stress. As practitioners we regularly advise on lifestyle factors, but we can also help to balance the body, mind and spirit using acupuncture. Also, I've found that my FEA proto-col alone, really activates the Qi in the face and helps to clear the skin.

There may be other triggers unique to your patient, so if you use any creams as part of a cosmetic acupuncture treatment, discuss this with them beforehand. I currently use cleansers and post-treatment creams from a British skin research company that specialise in Micro Needle Therapy solutions. They create skincare products that are based on a green manufacturing philosophy; they are chirally correct, paraben free and PH balanced.

As always, we need to be realistic when it comes to patient expectations and there are four subtypes of rosacea that you may come across. However, whether we're purely performing cosmetic acupuncture or traditional acupuncture, we're taking a complete history every time and this ensures that we maintain the holistic experience that this truly wonderful practice provides.

If you have any questions or you'd like to share some points that you've found effective in the treatment of this condition, I'd love to hear from you and perhaps we can include them in a future issue of the Facial Enhance newsletter. 

Paul Adkins Lic.Ac., BA(Hons), 1st Dan, FEA, MBAcC, MCAUK, MMNTUK

I was delighted to have an article published in the winter issue of the British Acupuncture Council magazine 'The Acupuncturist'.

The opportunity arose following contact with the BAcC regarding a feature they had published in their previous issue about dermal rollers. As a Micro Needle Therapy trainer and founder of Facial Enhancement Acupuncture, I was invited to write an article on the subject.

From my point of view, after training acupuncturists in over 30 countries and carrying out hundreds of treatments in my own clinic, I felt well-placed to discuss the safety of these treatments when carried out by a suitably trained practitioner:

"It is my opinion that as highly trained professionals we need to embrace new treatment ideas, whilst being at the forefront of their development and most importantly, their safe practice."

I hope you find it interesting and informative. Please feel free to email me with any questions or comments.

Read the article>> 

Paul Adkins Lic.Ac., BA(Hons), 1st Dan, FEA, MBAcC, MCAUK, MMNTUK

To celebrate the Lunar Chinese New Year, Facial Enhance would like to give everyone their very own virtual red packet!

Known as Hong Bao in China, red packets or envelopes containing auspicious amounts are given to friends, family and colleagues at Chinese New Year.
Gung Hei Fat Choi!

N.B. Offer expires on 6th February 2012.