Microcurrent Therapy Decreases the Appearance of Facial Wrinkles and Pore Size by Increasing Tissue Perfusion and Collagen Production

Background: Increased blood flow to a wound or injured area facilitates healing by delivering oxygen and nutrients necessary to promote healing. Tissue perfusion is increased by improved peripheral circulation. Microcurrent, particularly high voltage pulsed current (HVPC), has been shown to increase blood flow rate and promote local blood circulation and induces a transient rise in skin perfusion.

Methods: To measure increased perfusion, six female volunteers (average age = 61) were recruited from a local aesthetician’s office. Using a digital camera skin analyzer*, images of the face were taken and analyzed to assign scores to wrinkles and pores pre- and post-treatment.  Participants’ faces were treated for 30-40 minutes with HVPC**.  Post-treatment, all participants had higher scores on both wrinkle and pore size reduction suggesting increased perfusion due to tissue plumping.  
For more than 50 years, wound healing efficacy from electrical stimulation has been published repeatedly and as an adjunct therapy appears to be effective in promoting chronic wound healing.  

Results: Long-term benefits include cost savings and improved quality of life. Currently, the law prohibits manufacturers to market the use of electrical stimulators for wound healing. Lack of approval for this indication, however, does not preclude health care professionals from providing this therapy as an off-label use. In 2016, the Wound Healing Society Guideline #7.2.3 (page 124) states: “Electrical stimulation is recommended to accelerate wound closure. (Level I) Principle: Application of electric current to diabetic foot wounds increases local tissue perfusion and may affect protein synthesis, cell migration, and bacterial growth to improve wound healing.”

Conclusion: Evidence suggests that HVPC also increases collagen production.  Further investigation of the long-term and cumulative effects of HVPC are warranted.