Acupuncture Reduces Wrinkles

Acupuncture Reduces Wrinkles And Provides UVB Protection 

Acupuncture protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation damage, decreases wrinkle formation, and inhibits degradation of collagen fibers. Researchers investigated the effects of thread embedded acupuncture (TEA) in a dermatological laboratory experiment on laboratory mice.

Benefits to the skin were confirmed with histopathological measurements and zymography, an electrophoretic technique for documenting proteolytic activity. In addition, visible skin changes were documented using photography.

The photographic and laser scanning microscopic images were striking. The control group mice receiving only ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure showed significantly greater skin damage than mice receiving UVB exposure combined with absorbable thread embedded acupuncture. Immunohistochemistry, zymography, histological analysis, and collagen staining confirm that embedded acupuncture protects the skin from UVB damage. Using the aforementioned techniques, the researchers were able to identify key mechanisms by which acupuncture exerted its therapeutic effects.

The researchers note that acupuncture “is effective in suppressing signs of photoaging including epidermal thickness and collagen fiber loss. In addition, TEA exerts its photoprotective effects against UVB irradiated skin damage by inhibiting JNK activation with subsequent reduction in MMP-9 expression.” Levels of pJNK and MMP-9 were significantly reduced using thread embedded acupuncture (TEA). The researchers note that TEA may have tightened lax skin and prevented wrinkles due to its lasting stimulatory effects on collagen fiber formation due to downregulation of JNK and MMM-9.

The researchers note that MMP-9 (matrix metallopeptidase), an enzyme that breaks down extracellular matrix and is involved in tissue remodeling, “plays a major role in the final degradation of cleaved collagen into gelatin and small peptides, a major factor responsible for wrinkle formation.” In this experiment, excessive amounts of MMPs were secreted due to UVB stimulation of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and inflammatory related cells. The thread embedded acupuncture alleviated the “gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9 and subsequent alleviation of collagen loss.” 

Acupuncture’s ability to downregulate MMP-9 in the presence of excessive MMP-9 expression implies a homeostatic response because additional research demonstrates that acupuncture can upregulate MMP-9. Researchers found that acupuncture applied to acupoints LR3 (Taichong), LR14 (Qimen), UB18 (Ganshu), and ST36 (Zusanli) alleviates hepatic fibrosis. Examination of hepatocyte arrangement, necrosis, and hepatic pseudo-lobular formation confirms that acupuncture ameliorates hepatic fibrosis. 

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