The quest for youthful skin has led to the exploration of various techniques, with the latest being a combination of micro-needling and cupping. This innovative approach, suggested by researchers from Kecioren Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey, could potentially rejuvenate the skin.
(Top Left) The skin is folded over itself using a wooden tongue depressor. (Top Right) The process of micro-needling is performed using a wooden tongue depressor. (Middle Left) The area for cupping is determined, located roughly 3 cm behind the midpoint of the line that passes through the posterior edge of both ears. (Middle Right) A sturdy material made from cardboard is sutured to the cupping area to prevent the skin from being drawn into the cup. (Bottom Left) Cupping is performed under a negative pressure of approximately 40 mmHg using a negative-wound pressure device (Genaydne Biotechnologies Inc.). (Bottom Right) Once a negative pressure value of 40 mmHg is achieved, the device is disconnected. Credit: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery151(6):1233-1241, June 2023.
In the pursuit of youthful, radiant skin the researchers have proposed a groundbreaking combination of two techniques: microneedling and cupping. This innovative pairing has shown promising potential in rejuvenating the skin, marking a significant advancement in aesthetic surgery
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Microneedling, a non-surgical technique, promotes skin regeneration and healing. It involves using a small roller equipped with micro-needles to puncture different layers of the dermis and epidermis. On the other hand, cupping therapy, also known as “hijama,” involves placing suction cups on the skin to draw blood to specific body parts. This therapy creates negative pressure, leading to increased blood flow in the applied area, according to Turkish scientists.
The researchers conducted a study to determine if combining these two techniques could contribute to skin rejuvenation. They performed an experiment on rats, with one group undergoing a single microneedling session, while another group had a microneedling session followed by 15 minutes of cupping. Some rats underwent three micro-needling sessions, either alone or followed by a cupping therapy session. The aim was to trigger inflammation and vascularization. After four weeks of healing, the skin changes at the cellular level were compared.
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The results, published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open Journal, showed an improvement in skin thickness. The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, increased from about 24 micrometers (μm) after a single micro-needling session to 42 μm after micro-needling and cupping. Cupping therapy was also associated with an increase in the thickness of the dermis, the layer of skin beneath the epidermis. Another observation was that micro needling led to a more significant increase in type 1 collagen levels in the skin. “A high percentage of type 1 collagen is characteristic of younger skin,” the researchers noted.
“Cupping therapy can be combined with micro-needling and used to achieve certain desired effects on the skin. This combination could be a simple and effective method to improve skin quality in aesthetic surgery practice,” concluded Burak Pasinlioğlu, the author of the research.
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References
Pasinlioğlu, B., Çenetoğlu, İ. S., Karasu, O., Özkoçer, S. E., & Elmas, Ç. (2023). Evaluating the Effects of Skin Microneedling Combined with Cupping Therapy versus microneedling Alone: A Study in Experimental Context. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 151(6), 1233-1241. https://www.doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000010134
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