In recent years, gua sha has successfully transformed from a traditional Chinese medicine body therapy to a “natural skin care technique” in the modern beauty industry. Whether it is the celebrity recommendations and user sharing seen on social platforms, or the addition of various “gua sha instruments” to many skin care brands, this ancient therapy seems to be everywhere. Have you ever had such questions:
- Is guasha really work?
- How often gua sha? Is it okay to guasha every day?
- Why do others see results, but I don’t see any changes?
This article will give some answers to these questions. We will answer you from three dimensions: scientific research, expert advice and real user cases. Through these methods, you can avoid detours on the road of guasha.
What is Gua Sha? Why is it Becoming Popular?
There is no unified statement about the origin of Gua Sha, and we will not check it too much because it is not the main purpose of this article. We only need to simply understand that Gua Sha is a natural therapy originated from traditional Chinese medicine, and it scrapes the skin surface with specific tools to promote blood circulation, lymphatic detoxification, relieve muscle tension and other effects. So why has it become popular in recent years? There are two main factors-demand and momentum.
The surge in demand for Gua Sha.
With the popularity of natural therapy and non-invasive beauty, people are keen to find various natural and non-invasive ways to achieve beauty effects. The relevant market demand has surged. The efficacy of Gua Sha outside of traditional Chinese medicine has been continuously discovered, among which its natural therapy and non-invasive beauty efficacy shines. The high matching degree of demand and function has led to a surge in the Gua Sha sales market.
The push of major social media
In recent years, social media users have shown exponential growth. The traffic of social media has also gradually surpassed traditional search engines. We have no way of verifying when Gua Sha began to appear on social media, nor do we know who is behind the scenes. But we can observe that since 2017, a large number of videos about Gua Sha have begun to appear on mainstream social media such as YouTube. Some are tutorials on how to use Gua Sha, some are sharing of Gua Sha celebrity cases, and some are professional Gua Sha demonstrations.
But no matter who is promoting Gua Sha and what kind of video content is used to promote it, it has eventually made Gua Sha, a tool from the ancient East, appear in the eyes of countless people.
Does Gua Sha Really Work? Science and Cases Coexist
Does Gua Sha Work? There is no cure-all in the world. Gua Sha cannot work for everyone and every symptom. When exploring its effects, we need to consider multiple factors, such as scientific research and real user experience.
1. Scientific research support
- A study published in “J Cosmet Dermatol (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatol)” showed that the facial contours of subjects who performed facial gua sha 3 times a week for 8 consecutive weeks were significantly tightened and the skin elasticity was improved.
- MRI imaging of the Taiwan Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center showed that local microcirculation of the skin increased by up to 400% after scraping, and faster blood flow helped waste metabolism and nutrient absorption.
From various scientific studies, it can be seen that gua sha does have a certain effect. However, the effect may be affected by individual differences.
2. User real case sharing
Scientific research only represents the effect of its theoretical existence, while the real experience represents its actual possible effect. We will tell three real case sharing, which may give you some reference about the effect of gua sha.
- Case 1｜Improved edema
Xiaohongshu(Chinese Version) user @果果 used a guasha tool (rose quartz) to scrape from the jaw to behind the ear for 30 consecutive mornings. She found that the “V-face” line was clearer and the edema in the morning was reduced. - Case 2｜Relieve stress headaches
An office worker used an obsidian gua sha tool to gently scrape around the temples and eyebrows every night. After two weeks, he said that “he slept better and had fewer headaches.” - Case 3｜Relaxed shoulders and neck
A senior sports blogger used a metal guashaa board to relieve back muscles after training, and reported that “it is softer than a massage gun and recovers muscle soreness faster.”
How Often is Gua Sha the Best? Scientific Advice to Answer
How often gua sha? Have you ever thought about this question? Many people ignore the frequency of guasha and only focus on how to operate it. This has caused a large number of people to not fully experience the benefits of gua sha, and may even cause harm to themselves.
How often gua sha? This depends on the part and population used:
1. Facial Gua Sha: Recommended Frequency
- Beginners/sensitive skin: 2-3 times a week to avoid excessive skin stimulation, and maintaining a rhythm is conducive to a stable state.
- Experts/skin resistant: before bedtime or in the morning to help relax or reduce swelling, but be gentle
- Ordinary people: once every two days: it can guarantee the effect and have enough recovery time
2. Body Gua Sha: Varies From Person to Person
- Relax muscles and relieve fatigue: 1-2 times a week is enough
- Pain in shoulders and neck, cold and damp constitution: can be flexibly increased or decreased according to the body’s reaction
- Muscle soreness after exercise: high frequency use in a short period of time (once a night within 3 days), stop after recovery
What Might Happen if You Gua Sha too Frequently?
Although gua sha is a natural and non-invasive treatment, it does not have toxic side effects like drugs. However, as the saying goes, too much is as bad as too little. Anything in excess may have negative effects. Guasha may seem gentle, but if the frequency of operation is too high, the force is too strong, or the repair time is ignored, it may bring many disadvantages, such as:
- Local redness, skin breakage, and capillary rupture
- Stimulate sebaceous gland secretion, causing acne or blackheads
- Bruising and soreness in parts of the body are more severe
- “Skin fatigue” phenomenon: it becomes more sensitive and dull
5. Establish a Reasonable Gua Sha Care Plan: Practical Suggestions
To maximize the effect of gua sha, it is important to develop a care plan that suits your own situation. Next, I will give you a reference for usage suggestions. This is a plan based on the needs of most people. You can make corresponding adjustments according to your own situation:
1. Recommended Combination:
Use plant-extracted oils (such as olive oil), facial essence or special infusion liquid to apply to the skin before use to reduce the pulling feeling during guasha.
2. Recommended Time Period:
- Morning use is suitable for refreshing + swelling.
- Evening is suitable for relaxation + detoxification.
3. Recommended Gua Sha Sequence:
Cleansing > Apply lubricant > Gentle gua sha> Cleansing > Moisturizing and finishing
4. Precautions:
- Avoid using it in red, swollen, inflamed, and acne areas to avoid secondary damage to the skin.
- Control each time within 5-15 minutes and keep it gentle. Don’t overdo it, too much is as bad as too little.
5. Clean the Tools in Time After Use.
If not cleaned properly, the facial oils and essences attached to the gua sha tools will be an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.
How often gua sha? There is no standard answer to this question. It varies from person to person and changes with individual changes. But you can refer to some of the suggestions we provide and try them out. Make adjustments that suit your own needs for any areas that you don’t feel good about, so as to find a guasha program that suits you. Another important point to remember is persistence. Gua sha is a long-term investment.
