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Have you ever taken the time to relax your facial muscles? It’s easy to overlook this part of our well-being routine, but it can have a significant impact on our appearance and skin health. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of relaxing facial muscles, the adverse effects of facial tension, and how to take care of this often neglected area.
Understand the Muscle Structure
Our face and neck is composed of about 68 muscles. all playing a crucial role in our expression, communication, and sensory perception. The facial muscles are directly attached to the skin compare to Body Muscles :
Muscle Structure:
- Facial muscles: These are thin, flat muscles located in the face and neck region. They are attached to the skin and bones of the face and allow for facial expressions such as smiling, frowning, and blinking.
- Body muscles: Body muscles, also known as skeletal muscles, are thicker and more robust compared to facial muscles. They are attached to bones by tendons and are responsible for body movements like walking, running, and lifting objects.
However, these muscles are often subjected to excessive tension, whether due to stress, intense concentration, or simply out of habit.
Facial tensions can lead to a range of skin issues, including premature wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of firmness. Additionally, these tensions can alter blood and lymphatic circulation, which can affect the overall health of the skin.
The Effects of Facial Tension on the Skin
When we regularly contract our facial muscles, it can lead to an accumulation of stress and fatigue in this area. Wrinkles between the eyebrows, for example, are often caused by the repetitive contraction of the forehead muscles. Similarly, muscles around the eyes can wrinkle quickly due to frequent blinking and facial expressions.
Moreover, skin aging is accelerated by the decrease in collagen and elastin production, two proteins essential for skin firmness and elasticity. External aggressors such as sunlight, pollution, and smoking also contribute to this degradation.
The Link Between Facial Muscles and the Nervous System
It is important to know that the connection between the nervous system and the facial skin is very significant, thus further amplifying this relaxing effect. This excessive muscle contraction can also lead to the formation of wrinkles, so in addition to creating tension, it can form wrinkles. Because when the facial muscles contract, they pull on the skin covering them. And over time, these contractions can cause wrinkles or fine lines on the skin. Especially if the tensions in the face are permanent, if we do not relax these muscles.
For example, the wrinkles between the eyebrows, you often see them, these small hollows also called 11line, well they are often caused by the repetitive contraction of the muscles frowning the eyebrows. We frown because we are focused, we frown because we are unhappy, we frown because we are dazzled by the sunlight, we frown because we are looking at a screen, in reality, we often frown. And this formation of folds is accentuated by the decrease in the production of collagen and elastin.
Collagen is responsible for the firmness and structure of the skin, while elastin gives it its elasticity.
So, there is repetitive contraction which, after a while, can increase the formation of wrinkles, and these wrinkles are accentuated by the fact that the skin produces less and less collagen and elastin. Over the years, the skin also loses thickness and becomes thinner, which accelerates the effects of the sun, pollution, or even smoking. This also applies to the degradation of collagen and elastin, which is also accelerated by these three factors, as well as by diet, stress, and lack of sleep.
How to Take Care of Your Facial Muscles
It’s essential to incorporate facial muscle relaxation techniques into our daily skincare routine. Facial massages are an excellent way to release accumulated tension and stimulate blood circulation, promoting radiant and revitalized skin.
Additionally, it’s important to protect our skin from external aggressors by using suitable sunscreen and avoiding excessive sun exposure. Good sleep, a balanced diet, sport, and stress management are also key factors in maintaining skin health and preventing premature signs of aging.
Self Face Massage
By incorporating massage, we promote better blood circulation, thus improving the supply of oxygen and nutrients to our cells. It’s important to know that the cells of the epidermis, also known as cutaneous cells, require oxygen to function optimally, just like all other cells in our body. When blood circulation is stimulated, an increased amount of oxygen is transported to these cells, thereby promoting their regeneration and more even distribution.
In addition to oxygen, epidermal cells require nutrients to maintain their health and improve their functioning.
They need vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. When blood circulation is improved through massage, nutrients are better transported to the epidermal cells, making the skin more radiant and healthier.
A well-oxygenated and well-nourished skin allows epidermal cells to better synthesize collagen and elastin, ensuring optimal firmness, structure, and elasticity.
In facial massage, we also stimulate the lymphatic system, which plays a crucial role in eliminating toxins and cellular waste from the body. Unlike circulatory systems, the lymphatic system lacks a pump to function.
By incorporating precise movements, we stimulate this lymphatic system to promote the drainage of toxins and waste, thus optimizing the entire process of eliminating impurities.
The massage stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. On one hand, it activates the cells responsible for this synthesis, called fibroblasts, as you explained earlier. On the other hand, it improves blood and lymphatic circulation, thereby enhancing the transport of oxygen and necessary nutrients.
Moreover, due to the increased collagen, the skin retains moisture better in the skin tissues, improving skin hydration. As a result, the skin appears more plump, smoother, and softer.
What about, around our eyes?
The skin around our eyes is often referred to as the « window to the soul, » reflecting our emotions, expressions, and vitality. However, this delicate area is also one of the first to show signs of aging and fatigue.
The skin around our eyes differs from the rest of our face in several ways. It is significantly thinner, with an average thickness of only 0.4 millimeters, making it more susceptible to damage and wrinkles. Additionally, this area has fewer oil glands, which means it lacks the natural lubrication provided by sebum, making it prone to dryness and dehydration.
Moreover, the constant movement of our eyes, combined with frequent blinking and squinting, puts extra strain on the delicate muscles and tissues around this area. Over time, this can lead to the formation of fine lines, crow’s feet, and puffiness.
In summary, all the changes that occur in the face and skin create these small wrinkles that can unfortunately become permanent if we do not take care to relax our facial muscles and protect our skin from external aggressors, particularly the sun.
Conclusion
Taking care of our facial muscles is a crucial step in preserving the youthfulness and vitality of our skin. By regularly relaxing our facial muscles, adopting a suitable skincare routine, and protecting our skin from external aggressors, we can maintain a radiant complexion and a youthful appearance at any age. So, take a few moments each day to pamper your face and feel the benefits of relaxed and luminous skin.
Begin your journey to facial rejuvenation with our free PDF download, featuring simple face yoga gestures. Explore effective techniques to relax facial muscles, enhance circulation, and promote overall facial health and radiance
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