Deborah Tosline wrote and published “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” in 2015. Her approach to skin care is based on a scientific background, love of research and over 30 years of DIY skincare experience.

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Today in 2020 I still use and combine various skin care methods that are described in my book. However, in recent years I’ve obtained small massage tools and implemented a consistent facial fascia treatment. I now believe that smooth skin requires smooth facial fascia.

Let’s take a deeper dive to better understand the little known, misunderstood and often neglected fascia. 

Fascia consists of collagen connective tissue that supports the body’s internal system beneath the skin and contains the highest concentration of elastic fibers of all connective tissue.

Solid fascia is pervasive throughout the body; it encompasses muscles and surrounds bones, nerves, organs, and blood vessels. Fascia provides a frictionless surface to allow free movement of these structures without effort or irritation.  

Fascia is classified based on whether it is superficial, deep, surrounds organs (visceral), lines the body wall cavity (parietal), or by its function and location.

Liquid fascia provides nutrients and conveys chemical messages for the solid fascia. 

Under healthy conditions fascia, also known as myofascia, is the juiciest, most fluid form of connective tissue. Solid and liquid fascia require excellent hydration to function properly.  

Drinking sufficient fluids is vital for proper body and brain function and also to maintain a well hydrated fascia. Liquid facia is also integrated with the lymph and blood system which self-regulate the body’s biochemical system. Blood flow links to organs which communicate with other organs via hormones and chemical messages to ensure holistic integration of body functions. 

Healthy fascia not only contributes to body processes but also to neural activities. Dehydration directly impacts fascia health resulting in restricted fascia which limits muscle mobility and reduces the ability for fascia to support body functions. 

Fascia adhesions are fibrous fascia collagen fibers that bind together restricting fascia and muscle movement.

Adhesions result from the body’s self-healing process following even the smallest micro-injury. Untreated adhesions may lead to problems over time. Adhesions tighten connective tissue and stress soft tissue resulting in soreness, micro-tears and scar tissue. Scar tissue is a normal part of the healing process but it may lead to development of painful lumps in the connective tissue.

When fascia becomes dried out it becomes thick, sticky and tightly wound around muscles which limits their range of motion.  

Dry, tight, shortened fascia results in muscle pain and shortened muscles that pull on joints and may cause joint pain. 

On the face, dry tight fascia may exacerbate jaw issues and headaches. 

Fortunately, you may reverse fascia damage and avoid soft tissue problems. One way to begin healing the fascia is to drink an abundant supply of water and low-to-no sugar drinks.

Physical activity and an active lifestyle inhibit the development of adhesions. Regular exercise provides many great benefits including maintaining healthy and flexible fascia. Physical movement allows existing adhesions to break up and become resorbed by the body. A lack of movement allows adhesions to develop and grow which further restricts mobility over time. 

Dry unhealthy fascia layers may surround muscles and become glued to the fascia that surrounds nerves and vessels. This inhibits smooth gliding of nerves and vessels and results in irritation and inflammation. When this happens the fascia shortens and chemically changes to mold to the new conditions (even if it is wrong), for example - short tight muscles, in a way that makes the new movement feel normal and makes it difficult to correct. Untreated adhesions stress the body which adapts by gluing more muscles and tissues together to further limit movement which adds stress. 

It makes sense that maintaining soft smooth facial skin requires that the underlying fascia be lubricated and supple. Healthy fascia allows the skin to smoothly glide over the fascia tissue, for the facial muscles to relax, and promotes long-term chemical processes that are important to maintain glowing skin. Restricted fascia may lead to inflammatory responses, puffiness, and calcium and fat deposits. 

Smoothing facial fascia requires brief daily or weekly massages. To eliminate facial adhesions, I primarily use facial exercise and facial massage along with these tools: a knobby massager, a metal and stone Gua Sha, a Facial Blaster and a Yoga Ball.

FlexEffect is a facial resistance exercise and facial massage program that I began using in about 2002. It is a rigorous practice that helps to keep facial muscles strong and supple. Sometimes I’ve felt the slight pop of a fascia adhesion breaking up during massage.

I use facial massage tools on a daily basis. For example, I use the knobby massager while at work to smooth a furrowed brow (thinking too hard?) it helps me intentionally remember to maintain a smooth forehead; a Gua Sha at home with a bit of oil on the skin to break up adhesions and increase circulation; or a Facial Blaster at the gym in the sauna to smooth facial fascia and underlying muscles while they are warm and pliable. I’ve spent decades furrowing and lifting my brows; I believe that this repetitive sustained movement has scarred the facial fascia and possibly the underlying muscle. Over the past two years, I’ve used massage tools to smooth face and neck fascia and muscles and have noticed improvements including tighter skin. I often use the massage tools and follow Sanford Bennett’s wrinkle rub out method. This blog contains a good description of the method and links to Bennett’s books. 

Fascia is a tough fibrous tissue and massage is more effective when facial fascia is warm and pliable. If possible before using a massage tool, warm the face and neck with a near infrared lamp, red light, facial steam, wet or dry sauna, or warm washcloth. Massage and smooth the fascial fascia using the hands by rolling the skin in between the fingers. Apply a thin coat of oil to the skin and use one of the massage tools to strongly smooth the fascia. Locate adhesions and wrinkles in the facial fascia and smooth these areas, monitor your progress over time based on how the skin and fascia feel and look.

If you need more information, go to the library, search the Internet, read my past Blog articles, or get my book “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” 

Take good care of yourselves. xo

Deborah

This article is intended to be used as general information only and is in no way intended to replace medical advice, be used as a medical treatment program, diagnosis, or cure of any disease or medical condition. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the effectiveness of the practices described in this article. Products or substances discussed herein are for educational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations of the author.