Aging is inevitable, and many factors influence it both intrinsically and extrinsically. There are several ways to slow down the impact of aging, and products like sunscreen help combat the biggest extrinsic factor, ultraviolet damage. Muscle loss due to aging happens through the entire body. People lose muscle mass naturally as they age, and most people don’t realize it until their skin starts to sag or become loose. So, how can you help clients that are concerned with muscle loss? First, you need to understand a little more about muscles.
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MUSCLES
Muscles move through contraction or tightening and extension or relaxing. When muscles are contracted, the insertion moves while the origin stays fixed. When working on muscles through any movements, whether massage or modalities such as microcurrent, you always want to work the muscles from insertion to origin. What gets built up through contraction or working out is the belly or midsection of the muscles.
As people age, muscle tone gradually deteriorates. This starts to occur around age 30, the same age that collagen and elastin fibers start to break down. It is thought that anywhere from 3% to 5% of muscle is lost every decade after the age of 30. The amount of muscle tissue and size of muscle fibers decrease, and the ability for muscles to contract as quickly is also greatly impacted with age. Gravity, over time, pulls down skin and underlying fat, especially without the firm support of other underlying muscles, all of which contribute to sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Of course, it is inevitable, and there is no way to fight biological changes that occur in the body, especially when it comes to age related loss. Still, there are several modalities or treatments that can help slow the loss of muscles. Educating clients on the importance of sun damage and the need to protect themselves from extrinsic factors to help with the breakdown of collagen and elastin is of utmost importance. After all, that is well within their control. Regular sunscreen use all year round, ample amounts of antioxidants both orally and topically, and keeping the skin barrier healthy and intact is the responsibility of the individual. Once the client is in the treatment room, there are a few things you can do in conjunction to help with the aging process.
NEUROTOXINS
Although not within the aesthetician’s scope of practice, neurotoxin injectables is a popular and effective way to help keep those muscles still. It works by blocking certain signals from nerves, specifically signals that cause muscles to contract. Recommending your client to a trusted injector for various types of injections in conjunction with their skin care treatments and homecare can yield great results.
MICROCURRENT
With everything that happens in the treatment rooms, consistency is always key. There will never be one way to effectively combat all your clients’ concerns; however, microcurrent with regular treatment and consistent homecare can provide some amazing results. Microcurrent works by mimicking the body’s own electrical current which, in turn, helps to create the cellular energy, or adenosine triphosphate (ATP), that starts to deplete with time and age and does not replenish itself. The process of microcurrent helps educate muscles, encouraging them to act younger which, in turn, helps with muscle tone. Over time, fine lines and wrinkles become smoother, and skin appears plumper and more youthful.
LED Therapy
LED is another modality that encourages the production of cellular energy and cellular metabolism, along with its many other benefits deepening on the individual color and wavelength of light. Red light is great for stimulating the repair process of tissues as well as reducing inflammation. Adding this in your treatment room to help with cellular energy production can be a great benefit to clients concerned with aging and muscle loss.
While no treatment specifically actually tones the muscles, within an aesthetician’s scope of practice anyway, there are several options for slowing the process down and encouraging the cells and tissues of the body and skin to work more efficiently and act younger. As with anything you do, make sure to start with a thorough consultation to ensure there are no contraindications. Whatever you recommend and choose, make sure you do your research and know what you are recommending, why you are recommending it, and how it works to help your client achieve their desired outcome.
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Andrea Gregaydis is a licensed aesthetician and international CIDESCO diplomat. She holds multiple additional licenses as a New York state instructor and nail technician, as well as a certified laser technician. Gregaydis is the lead instructor at the Aesthetic Science Institute and has over 10 years of experience as a practitioner, team coordinator, and role model for hundreds of future skin care professionals. She is a contributing author to top industry trade magazines, as well as a speaker at various aesthetics conferences across the United States. She is also a CIDESCO International Examiner.
