What do dermatologists think about gua sha? I’m not a professional dermatologist, so we can’t speak for dermatologists. From the information we get from the Internet and various channels, the common view on Gua Sha is that it has certain curative effects on our health and beauty. However, using gua sha can indeed cause damage to our skin.
In order to explore this issue, we specially sought out a professional dermatologist, Ms. Deng (who has more than 12 years of clinical treatment experience and has a deep understanding of scraping) as a special guest to answer this question for us. We will ask Dr. Deng questions on several hot topics:
- Will gua sha cause damage to our skin?
- Is scraping effective?
- How to use Gua Sha to minimize the damage to our skin?
The first two questions are one of the most popular topics about gua sha, while the third topic is a derivative of the first two topics. Next, let us see how Dr. Deng will answer these three questions.
1. Will Gua Sha Cause Damage to Our Skin?
When we asked Dr. Deng this question, she did not answer directly. Instead, she asked us to experience the complete process of scraping first. This scraping process is entirely performed by Dr. Deng.
Dr. Deng first took out a scraping tool made of stone. “Gua sha tools made of stone or metal are in principle safer and easier to use than buffalo horns and other materials.” Dr. Deng explained this, and then continued to ask: “What’s wrong with your body now?” Is it a comfortable place? Are there any areas that feel sore?” Due to long hours of work, I did feel very uncomfortable in my shoulders and arms, so I reported this situation to Dr. Deng.
After understanding the situation, Dr. Deng asked me to take off my shirt and apply some essential oil on my shoulders and arms. According to Dr. Deng, it acts as a lubricant. After the application, Dr. Deng did not start scraping immediately, but pressed and kneaded my shoulders and arms with his fingers. Then Gua Sha was performed, and this was explained during the Gua Sha process:
Long-term work will cause the muscles and fascia in a certain area to be in a state of long-term tightness. Over time, lactic acid deposits will occur in these areas, and fascial adhesions will occur. The specific manifestation is that the muscles in a certain area are much harder than the surrounding areas. Normal muscles are soft and elastic in a relaxed state. The purpose of pressing with my fingers is to identify the areas of fascial adhesion, and then perform scraping on these areas.
The whole process lasted about 20 minutes. I could clearly see dark red patches appearing in the scraped area, accompanied by numbness and pain. After the operation, Dr. Deng answered this question:
Gua sha does cause damage to our skin. The dark red patches you see and the numbness and pain you feel all illustrate this point. This is why I will answer after you experience it. . However, this kind of injury is very slight and will not cause major damage to the human body. It usually returns to normal in about a week. Therefore, we recommend that no one use gua sha frequently, at least wait until all adverse reactions dissipate before trying again.
2. Is Guasha Effective?
Dr. Deng smiled and asked me how I felt after the experience. In addition to skin redness and slight pain, the previous muscle soreness was significantly relieved. Judging from the results, an obvious conclusion has been given.
We have summarized all of Dr. Deng’s answers to this question, roughly as follows:
- Although there are not many scientific studies to prove the efficacy of scraping, it has indeed existed for a long time in China’s long history. If it had no effect, it would not be passed down to this day. To use a controversial saying, there is a reason for existence.
- Although gua sha is effective, it is not a panacea. Before performing Gua Sha, you first need to understand whether your own problems can be solved or improved through Gua Sha. It is best to consult a professional doctor.
3. How to Use Gua Sha to Minimize the Damage to Our Skin?
How to use Gua Sha correctly to minimize its damage to our skin? Dr. Deng summarized the following points:
- Lubrication measures must be taken to reduce the friction between the scraping tool and the skin.
- Choose suitable and qualified scraping tools. The surface of the gua sha tool must not have defects that may cause harm to the human body.
- Ensure the appropriate scraping angle and appropriate scraping intensity.
- Leave a long enough time between two scrapings, at least until the adverse reaction from the last scraping has completely subsided.
- The most important point is that it must be performed under the supervision of professionals and do not try casually.
Make sure you follow the above 5 points when gua sha. Although there is no guarantee that gua sha will not harm your skin, it can minimize these injuries.
So, what do dermatologists think about gua sha? Stay rational and stay respectable. We must not only understand the benefits that a thing can bring to us (not just scraping), so as to maximize the benefits. It is also important to understand its potential risks so as to minimize them.
