Face rollers are commonly used to give skin a more youthful appearance / RossHelen/shutterstock
Massage rollers are commonly used in beauty treatments to help stimulate the skin, aiding circulation and giving a more youthful and glowing appearance. But their effects on blood flow and the vascular system have remained unclear. Now a small study by Japanese researchers, however, has given some scientific backing to the subject.
Researchers from the Institute for Liberal Arts at the Tokyo Institute of Technology found that using a face roller can increase skin blood flow for more than 10 minutes after a massage. It was also suggested that the use of rollers can improve vasodilation – the widening of blood vessels – in the long-term.
The research team conducted short- and long-term experiments involving the participation of 26 healthy male and female volunteers to examine the effects of using a massage roller on facial skin and blood flow.
Among the findings of the short-term experiments were that even a five-minute massage resulted in “significantly increased facial skin blood flow” in the massaged cheek, with a relative change of up to around 25 per cent.
“The increase in skin blood flow after applying the massage roller persisted much longer than we had expected,” the study says. “Short-term mechanical stimulation by a facial massage roller increased skin blood flow for more than 10 minutes solely in the massaged cheek.”
In the long-term experiment, the researchers examined the effects of daily massage on the right cheek over a five-week period. They also examined the reactivity of facial blood vessels to a heat stimulus, involving application of a heating probe set at 40°C, in order to test whether there were any changes in vascular dilation response.
Findings from the long-term study suggested that using a roller improved blood flow response, or the so-called vasodilatory response, to heat stimulation. One explanation for this could be that endothelial cells in the massaged area produce more nitric oxide, which is known to be a potent vasodilator.
The research was published in November 2018 in the Complementary Therapies in Medicine journal.
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Face rollers are commonly used to give skin a more youthful appearance / RossHelen/shutterstock
Massage rollers are commonly used in beauty treatments to help stimulate the skin, aiding circulation and giving a more youthful and glowing appearance. But their effects on blood flow and the vascular system have remained unclear. Now a small study by Japanese researchers, however, has given some scientific backing to the subject.
Researchers from the Institute for Liberal Arts at the Tokyo Institute of Technology found that using a face roller can increase skin blood flow for more than 10 minutes after a massage. It was also suggested that the use of rollers can improve vasodilation – the widening of blood vessels – in the long-term.
The research team conducted short- and long-term experiments involving the participation of 26 healthy male and female volunteers to examine the effects of using a massage roller on facial skin and blood flow.
Among the findings of the short-term experiments were that even a five-minute massage resulted in “significantly increased facial skin blood flow” in the massaged cheek, with a relative change of up to around 25 per cent.
“The increase in skin blood flow after applying the massage roller persisted much longer than we had expected,” the study says. “Short-term mechanical stimulation by a facial massage roller increased skin blood flow for more than 10 minutes solely in the massaged cheek.”
In the long-term experiment, the researchers examined the effects of daily massage on the right cheek over a five-week period. They also examined the reactivity of facial blood vessels to a heat stimulus, involving application of a heating probe set at 40°C, in order to test whether there were any changes in vascular dilation response.
Findings from the long-term study suggested that using a roller improved blood flow response, or the so-called vasodilatory response, to heat stimulation. One explanation for this could be that endothelial cells in the massaged area produce more nitric oxide, which is known to be a potent vasodilator.
The research was published in November 2018 in the Complementary Therapies in Medicine journal.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Lemi - Italian Touch
From humble beginnings in a small Italian village, Lemi has grown a hugely successful global business in the massage bed market. As it celebrates its 30th anniversary year, we talk to GM Matteo Brusaferri
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Olivia Newton-John skincare, Sounds of Africa and jet lag butlers feature in our programming series
Interview: Dale Hipsh
The senior VP of hotels at Hard Rock International tells Katie Barnes why its music-centric spa menu is striking the right chord with consumers and the media
Promotional feature: ISPA
After almost three decades serving members and contributing to the growth of the industry, we talk to ISPA’s Crystal Ducker about the work of the association and the future of spa
Spa Design: Jungle VIP
Kim Megson ventures deep into Mexico’s jungle to discover how two Chablé resorts with Mayan spas are aiming to redefine wellness
Interview: John & Karina Stewart
The inspirational couple behind Kamalaya in Thailand talk to Neena Dhillon about emotional therapies, why stress-busting is the new detox and how they’re evolving the concept
Promotional feature: Gharieni - Luxury Recognition
Gharieni has long been known as an industry innovator. Now, Forbes Travel Guide has named the company as its official Spa & Wellness Equipment Manufacturer. Sammy Gharieni tells us more
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Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, has opened in Greece, with a renovated and
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The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection property in Hawaii, US, has opened its
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Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
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Oakworks Inc Oakworks is a US-based FSC-certified manufacturer of spa, massage, and medical equipment. [more...]
