Gua Sha Risks Potential side effects from applying too much pressure include severe muscle soreness, skin bruising or discoloration, and damage, Dr. Houshmand says. Don't do gua sha over inflamed skin, open wounds, sunburns, rashes, or skin that's irritated from psoriasis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), or rosacea.
Potential Risks. Typically, gua sha is considered safe. However, you may have some bruising or discoloration of your skin. You could also be sore and tender for a short while after you have your treatment.
#5 Applying too much pressure
When we use a Gua Sha stone, it naturally causes redness due to increased blood flow and breaking of small vessels. And while this temporary redness is part of the practice, too much pressure can cause permanent damage.
Gua sha therapy can soften long-held patterns of facial tension, a.k.a deep grooves and wrinkles, when done long-term. Slowly, you may notice your brow looking less furrowed, softer nasolabial folds (the “parenthesis” around your mouth), and faded crow's feet.
Gua sha isn't supposed to be painful at all. If you use the wrong kind of scraping instrument or lubrication you might end up breaking the skin – and that can be painful.
Gua sha causes tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin called capillaries to burst. This creates the distinctive red or purple bruises, known as sha. The bruises usually take a few days or a week to heal and can be tender while healing.
With every massage, fine lines are softened, under-eye puffiness is reduced, skin feels firmer, and the complexion looks more glowing. Plus, if you use the Gua Sha regularly (at least two or three times a week, and ideally every day), you'll see results very quickly. An effect on acne.
The takeaway.
Don't be afraid: Your gua sha stone isn't giving you wrinkles, if you're doing it right, that is. Just be mindful not to apply too much pressure, use oil, and always move upward. Glowing skin awaits.
Using marble or glass will not give you the energy benefits. Your fake roller is keeping you away from an authentic Gua Sha experience. Rubbing a glass is not the same as rubbing jade or rose quartz. In the long run, your skin might be irritated and cause breakouts.
Can you use gua sha without oil? You can use gua sha with a serum or even a moisturizer, but you need to use it with something. If you don't pair it with a product, it will pull at your skin, which is exactly what you don't want to be doing.
“Just like your sponges and brushes, gua sha tools can harbor bacteria and dirt, which can cause skin conditions such as sensitivity, irritation, and breakouts.”
No, you do not have to wash your face after gua sha. Having gua sha is actually better than cleansing your face because cleansing your face will remove the natural oils on our skin and make it more oily.
Gua Sha: One reason gua sha works is because it moves the lymph! Lymphatic massage: A lymphatic drainage massage is designed to follow the pathways of the lymph, lymph nodes, and uses a soft touch to assist the body in draining and detoxifying.
Gua sha drains the skin of excess fluids, which in turn, emphasizes the face's natural contours. Hence, the face appears more “sculpted” after its use — and that's exactly why many people use gua sha for jawline sculpting.
Promote collagen production – Stimulating the lymphatic and circulatory systems through facial gua sha can help increase collagen production. This increased collagen helps to fill in wrinkles and plump the skin.
"Stagnation can look like excess fluid buildup in the face, which gua sha can help with, resulting in less puffiness or more defined facial features. Gua sha cannot, however, change bone structure," Zheng explains.
The unique edges of various Gua Sha stones work perfectly to lift, sculpt and tighten the skin. Regular use can prevent the signs of aging such as sagging, dull and wrinkled skin. Since Gua Sha helps stimulate circulation, the technique itself oxygenates and carries nutrients to the skin cells.
Sometimes starting a gua sha practice can aggravate the skin and cause a breakout — this happens and you should know it's a totally normal, common response. It's like you're stirring up debris that's settled at the bottom of a lake, the debris needs somewhere to go. Up and out!
If you are looking to reduce double chin, using gua sha may be helpful for tightening up your neck skin and creating a better pronounced jawline. However, as any beauty procedure, it will be most efficient when combined with other healthy lifestyle choices.
Take a jade gua sha tool into the shower and use the water as a lubricant. Simply press-stroke gently all over your face for about a minute. Then you can repeat this technique before bed, using oil.”
Using body Gua Sha on the abdominal area, start at your obliques and start in a downward motion towards the belly button. When working on the abdomen itself, you want to work in a clockwise circular motion, encouraging the flow of digestion.
For best results, our experts recommend performing gua sha three to four times a week for about three to five minutes each time.
Gua sha can break up and soften scar tissue making the scarred areas less painful and more functional. Gua sha is great for focusing on chronic muscle knots, especially stubborn ones that just seem to snap back into tension even after massage therapy. Expect some colorful results on the treated areas.
Start with one side of the face, apply 3-5 strokes per area before moving to the other side of your face. The tool should be used at a flat angle - approximately one finger width between the Gua Sha and your skin - and with a light pressure.