Cosmetic & Medical Applications of Microcurrent Therapy

We like to think in a linear, singular form that one cause leads to a single effect. We love the “if-then” binary certainties and see stories unfolding in a single direction as we are reading or listening to a narrative. Nature is much more rowdy and practical with its resources, and very rarely will one thing have only one function, as is the case with natural energy powering life and thought - the electrical current. In this article, we'll explore the dual nature of microcurrent therapy as applied in cosmetics and medical realms, such as healing or chronic pain relief. We'll learn about essential questions, such as what is microcurrent therapy used for and how a microcurrent facial differs from frequency-specific microcurrent treatment. We'll understand how microcurrent works, what ATP is, and how microcurrent affects ATP production. So from unbridled lightning lighting the skies over the worlds of ancients to the harnessed and controlled currents in the modern world and beauty and medicine universes, let's ride the electron and let the current of thoughts take us where it will.

1. How did microcurrent therapy enter medicine and beauty? 

Originally developed for medical applications of muscle recovery, microcurrent therapy has since made an eclectic and electric appearance as a praised anti-aging skincare technology by offering natural-looking results without the need for needles or surgery. If you’re reluctant about cutting into your flesh to shave a few years of your production date microcurrent facials are now an affordable, painless, and practical beauty favorite to rejuvenate the skin with no downtime. At some points very clear, the line dividing the medical and beauty applications of microcurrent therapy gets fuzzy and overlaps at other points.

But how did this path start? Microcurrent technology applied to medical treatments has been around for about half a century and is sort of old news, or it would be if we didn’t keep finding new ways to apply it. Microcurrent therapy dates back to the 1970s, when Dr. Thomas W. Wing began using electrical stimulation to treat conditions such as Bell’s palsy, a disorder affecting the nerve that controls facial muscle movement on one side of the face, resulting in stroke-like drooping. His goal was to find a reliable and effective way to recover the muscles and nerves so that people could get their faces and their lives back.

For contemporary medical purposes, microcurrent therapy is used to treat inflammation, scar tissue, and pain, especially pain linked to nerve and muscle problems. If you’ve ever known someone with severe pain (chronic or as a result of an injury) or had the misfortune of going through it yourself, chances are that current was used to help with the pain itself and entice the body to heal itself. FSM therapy works by enhancing ATP production in the cell. ATP is a vital energy used for most biochemical and physiological processes in the body from your first to your last breath. If all the mitochondria in your cells suddenly decided to strike and were to stop producing ATP for a fraction of a second, death would be almost instantaneous. This is how arsenic works, preventing proper cell respiration and energy production. ATP is an absolutely vital energy source for all bodily tissues and processes, and its role is just as evident in repairing damaged tissues. By increasing ATP levels in cells by up to 500%, Frequency-Specific Microcurrent therapy promotes faster recovery and damage repair with basically zero side effects.

Microcurrent technology has opened new doors since the initial noble medical purpose and various branches that split off the main idea. When discussing beauty benefits regarding the face and the body, microcurrent offers targeted solutions for one of the most significant concerns consuming our aesthetic considerations: the fear of aging and the chase after the elusive eternal youth. Thanks to its various benefits and non-invasive approach as a natural energy the body knows how to deal with, it has spilled over into anti-aging treatments. The lab coats' sleeves were rolled up high, and the research has shown that low-level currents help stimulate facial muscles and collagen production. We all know that once the collagen deteriorates, things start going downhill, literally. Our options of zero-incision rejuvenation look grim if we cannot rev up this collagen production again. This microcurrent lightning in-a-bottle allows us to push the pedal to the metal via an entirely natural and benign power to restore collagen production, lift, tone, stimulate, and tighten the muscle and the skin above it. So, microcurrent therapy in beauty tech pertains mainly to facelifting and body sculpting by re-educating and stimulating the muscles and offering both immediate and cumulative benefits.

2. Microcurrent Therapy in Cosmetics & Beauty 

These microcurrent techniques gently stimulate muscles, improving tone, firming, and lifting the face and body. If you don’t need some natural nip and tuck, you’re welcome to lie or just pretend you’re interested in the other benefits, such as increased collagen production and speeding up the healing process in the skin with scars and blemishes. In addition to these effects on the musculature and scarring, a microcurrent facial or body treatment also improves circulation, bringing fresh oxygen & nutrient-rich blood to every cell for a healthy, radiant glow while enhancing skincare product absorption so nothing precious goes to waste.

Microcurrent technology can be used on the face and the body to refresh and rejuvenate the look and feel of the skin.

Facial Treatments:

• Neck: We can run, and we can hide but neck wrinkles will always find us like we owe them money. No matter how hard we try to hide the years on our faces, the neck always somehow slips under the radar, leaking confidential info. Microcurrent therapy can help tighten and firm the neck skin, reducing the appearance of sagging and wrinkles while promoting better circulation and collagen production, restoring a neck you remember from years ago.

   

• Eye Area: The skin around the eyes is delicate and the thinnest on the body, excluding our most private places. All of this makes it very fragile and defenseless against environmental factors and the merciless ticking of clocks. Microcurrent therapy can reduce puffiness, minimize dark circles, and smooth out fine lines like crow’s feet (only crows need crow’s feet), resulting in refreshed eyes and a more alert appearance.

   

• Acne: A teenager, a grown-up, or somewhere in between, acne is a really bad deal with multifactorial causes we cannot always figure out. Ideally, we'll be able to pinpoint and address the root cause, but when it comes to skin ravaged by inflammation and scar tissue, the skin needs a little push toward hyper-healing. Microcurrent therapy is very beneficial for acne-prone skin as it improves circulation and lymphatic drainage, helping to reduce inflammation while stimulating collagen production and fading scarring.

   

• Wrinkles: Skin sits atop of muscle. As we’ve been alive for an increasing number of decades, we’ve been using those muscles for longer, repeating the same motions or facial expressions. Simultaneously, the skin’s regeneration and turnover skills start slipping, resulting in visible creases and folds due to the lack of collagen and elastin fibers that keep the skin elastic and taut. By enhancing collagen and elastin production, microcurrent treatments can diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, plump it up, and provide a smoother and more youthful look.

   

• Face Lifting: We’ve all stepped out of a shower and stared at our face in the mirror, pulling it back by the temples, looking at the face we once knew. Microcurrent therapy acts as a natural facelift by toning and lifting the facial muscles, helping redefine facial contours without walking the dangerous blade of a scalpel.

   

• Lips: As you age, you’ll start noticing changes on your lips, such as slightly drooping corners, flattening, and a loss of volume. Microcurrent therapy can enhance and sharpen the lip contour by stimulating the circular muscles around the mouth. It can improve definition and restore some of that lost (but never forgotten) volume without the easy but invasive fillers.

   

Body Treatments:

• Belly: The belly is especially susceptible to the ravages of time and life circumstances, such as pregnancy or weight fluctuations. On the abdomen, microcurrent therapy devices can help tone the weakened muscles and improve the firmness and texture of sagging skin, leading to a tighter, more sculpted appearance. It may also help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

   

• Cellulite: Although it has a genetic component, cellulite still responds to lifestyle changes and treatments to break it down. Microcurrent therapy effectively reduces the appearance of cellulite by primarily promoting proper lymphatic drainage and improving circulation. This helps break down fat deposits and smooths the skin’s surface, getting rid of that stubborn, dimpled orange-peel vibe.

   

• Glutes: One of the ultimate female attributes is an ample, toned derriere. We’d all like a bit more (tight) junk in our trunk, and our goal is shapely muscle rather than jiggly fat deposits. Microcurrent therapy can lift and tone the gluteus maximus (the largest gluteal muscle) area while helping improve muscle definition and creating a more contoured and toned appearance.

   

• Lymphatic Drainage: Lymphatic drainage is one of the mechanisms the body uses to detox. Microcurrent therapy devices have the unique benefit of improving circulation and reducing fluid retention, which enhances the body’s natural ability to eliminate waste and minimize bloating for some practical and effective body sculpting.

3. Microcurrent Therapy in Medical & Cosmetic Applications

Not only limited to the looking glass of surface effects, microcurrent therapy branches off into subdomains that, in addition to skin enhancement effects, also cater to medical purposes, such as healing, muscle recovery, sleep disturbances, and sinus issues. Frequency-specific microcurrent therapy (FSM) and Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) are some of these highly-regarded, non-invasive transformative therapies. While FSM uses precisely tuned electrical frequencies for tissue healing and pain management, EMS is focused more on muscles and provides targeted activation to build strength, tone, and resilience. Key areas that could benefit from the said therapies are:

• Pain Management: Living with pain is a very uncomfortable and disturbing experience, and any lessening of this suffering is welcome, especially when it is entirely non-invasive and refrains from large amounts of painkillers that put pressure on the liver.   FSM microcurrent therapy device for pain does not just mask the pain, as painkillers do. It provides targeted relief for chronic and acute pain by using low-frequency currents to reduce inflammation and promote healing at the cellular level. In addition, EMS improves blood circulation, releases endorphins, and reduces muscle pain and stiffness.

   

• Muscle Toning and Strengthening: Life will throw some curve balls our way, and there will most likely be some injuries or life circumstances leading to muscle wasting or weakness, such as accidents and injuries. These could ask for a period of immobilization or limited movement, resulting in weakened muscles that have lost some of their tone and function. EMS is highly effective in these cases, offering muscle conditioning and rehabilitation. Electrical pulses directly stimulate muscle contractions, ideal for those looking to build strength back up, improve endurance, or maintain muscle tone after immobilization. EMS can also be used to enhance workout results and help achieve specific fitness goals.

   

• Sinus Relief: Have you ever felt so congested as if your head was full of tightly compacted cotton wool and you can’t breathe in properly? Sinus issues, especially chronic ones, are a torturous ordeal of always feeling foggy, hazy, and on the brink of a headache. FSM microcurrent therapy for inflammation can help reduce the severity and promote drainage for much-needed relief in chronic sinus problems and ease breathing discomfort. It targets sinus tissues specifically, which helps reduce sinus pressure and relieve congestion.

   

• Insomnia and Better Sleep: People are strong, resilient, and resourceful and can deal with nearly anything that comes their way, but sleep deprivation can break even the strongest among us. It can lead to dangerous side effects from the compromised immune system that leave you vulnerable to all sorts of nasty diseases, all the way to hallucinations, a full-blown mental breakdown, and psychosis. FSM’s calming frequencies promote relaxation and help restore healthy sleep patterns. This therapy is ideal for those consistently dealing with insomnia or poor-quality sleep, offering a medication-free solution to improve rest and rejuvenation. Using medication here and there to help you sleep is not a huge deal, but becoming dependent on them for a good night's rest is a problem.

   

• Cosmetic Benefits: Besides their various medical applications, FSM and EMS offer cosmetic benefits. FSM is an excellent choice for lymphatic drainage, cellulite reduction, and skin tightening, ideally on the neck, belly, and glutes. EMS enhances these effects by stimulating and toning the underlying muscles, creating a firmer, more sculpted appearance. Together, FSM and EMS offer a powerful approach worth considering as an alternative to cosmetic surgery.

4. Key Differences Between Microcurrent Therapies

Microcurrent therapy, frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM), and Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) are variations on the same microcurrent technology base, but each has a distinct application focus:

• Microcurrent: Primarily used in skincare, a microcurrent therapy device stimulates collagen production and gently tightens facial muscles for an overall rejuvenated look. This non-invasive anti-aging treatment works at a superficial level to improve skin tone, smooth wrinkles, and enhance a youthful appearance. It is widely used in aesthetic treatments to create a lifted and refreshed look.

  

• Frequency-specific microcurrent therapy (FSM): FSM is a more therapeutic approach in which specific electrical frequencies target deeper tissues, including muscles, nerves, and connective tissue. The frequencies match the natural electrical signals of damaged or inflamed tissue, activating the body’s natural healing processes and helping with chronic pain, inflammation, and recovery from muscle or nerve injuries.

   

• Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS): EMS is more of a muscle-targeting therapy, sending stronger electrical impulses to contract muscle fibers for muscle conditioning, toning, and recovery. This therapy effectively stimulates natural muscle contractions, which helps improve strength, endurance, and tone. It is widely used in sports, physical therapy, joint recovery after injury, and cosmetic applications to enhance muscle definition.

Application Differences Summation: While microcurrent therapy and FSM are gentler and more focused on healing and rejuvenation, EMS activates muscles directly. FSM and microcurrent therapy are best for therapeutic and skin rejuvenation purposes, while EMS is ideal for strengthening and toning muscles.

FSM vs TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM) and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) operate through different mechanisms. As mentioned above, FSM targets specific tissues and promotes healing by stimulating the body's own recovery mechanisms in conditions like chronic pain, muscle recovery, and inflammation. In contrast, TENS is primarily used for direct pain management, delivering low-voltage electrical currents through electrodes on the skin to block pain signals from reaching the brain.

While FSM aims to restore normal function and enhance recovery and feels quite soothing, TENS focuses on immediate pain relief by altering the perception of discomfort. Users may feel a tingling sensation.

5. Safety and Side Effects

Despite dealing with powerful energy, once controlled and used by a trained expert, microcurrent therapies are generally considered safe for most individuals. The side effects, if any, tend to be mild and temporary, such as slight tingling or redness in the treated area, which also signals that the treatment is working and that the charge was sufficient to coax your body into reacting. These slight effects usually disappear very fast, and you have no cause for concern.

The only one from the bunch from which you could expect more noticeable side effects is the therapeutic frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM). While effective, it can cause muscle twitching, overstimulation, or skin irritation in some users due to targeting deeper tissues.

6. Contraindications for Microcurrent and FSM

Those who have pacemakers, who are pregnant, or who suffer from conditions like epilepsy should avoid these treatments. Additionally, anyone battling severe skin conditions or infections should consult a medical professional to ensure they use these potent treatments safely and appropriately. Keep in mind that electrical treatments use some sort of conductive medium to deliver currents into the skin and muscle safely, so make sure you are okay with the ingredients in the chosen gels or serums.

7. Duration of Effects

The aesthetic effects of microcurrent facial treatments, such as skin tightening and wrinkle reduction, can be observed right after treatment and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so you should have regular treatments to keep up the results or, ideally, get an easy-to-use, at home microcurrent facial device, such as BEAR™ 2, to maintain the result yourself.

GET YOUR BEAR™ 2

Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM) treatments for pain management or muscle rehabilitation also require consistent sessions to achieve and maintain lasting benefits, sustained relief, and continued healing.

8. Conclusion

Now about 50 years old, technology from Bell’s palsy treatments migrated to physical therapy and esthetician salons, blossoming into a versatile, safe, and non-invasive solution for various aesthetic and medical concerns. Standing tall with its zero risk and high-efficacy applications, microcurrent therapy, FSM, EMS, and TENS offer exciting beauty, health, and wellness advancements. 

We hope we’ve managed to provide enough solid facts here so you can seriously consider these treatments and make informed decisions about your health and beauty. Please take this as a wide stroke overview of the most common uses of electrical stimulation technology, and, as with any treatment, we urge you to consult with a qualified professional to determine the best methods and treatments for your specific needs and health conditions. Stay charged, stay curious, healthy, and beautiful, and enjoy living in your skin.