Why You Should Learn Cosmetic Acupuncture as Part of Your CPD Training

Once the preserve of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), cosmetic acupuncture has become increasingly mainstream over the past few years as a natural alternative to Western skincare treatments.

Practitioners say that the procedure, which involves inserting small needles into specific acupuncture points on the face to produce a healing response, has a positive effect on alleviating skin conditions like hormonal and cystic acne and offers significant anti-ageing benefits.

If you’re looking to learn and train in a marketable clinical skill using your CPD hours, cosmetic acupuncture is a very strong option right now.

Below, we explore the rising popularity of facial acupuncture treatment, why this makes it a great choice for meeting professional development goals and ultimately, how it can make a difference to the lives of your patients.

Global Demand for Cosmetic Acupuncture Is Growing

Acupuncture in general, is a high-growth market. Recent estimates predict that worldwide, the acupuncture market will be worth USD 55,323.8 million by 2023 with a 14.50% CAGR.

(Image source: marketresearchfuture.com)

Alongside this, people are increasingly turning towards non-surgical procedures over surgery for their beauty treatments.

43% of the British population is interested in non-invasive cosmetic procedures and the global non-invasive aesthetic treatment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% between 2018 and 2027, according to figures from Research and Markets. The report states that “Growing implementation of minimally invasive procedures, acceptance of non-surgical cosmetic procedures and rising wakefulness regarding advanced treatment methods are some of the key driving factors for the market growth”.

This global surge of interest means that:

• Facial acupuncture is becoming popular with dermatology clinics looking to expand their range of treatments, or to offer holistic therapies alongside Western medical procedures.
• Facial acupuncture is a solid stepping-stone for healthcare professionals who dream of running their own clinics or setting up their own healthcare-related businesses.
• Dermatology, cosmetic and related clinics will be looking to recruit more healthcare workers trained in acupuncture in the near future.

As such, cosmetic acupuncture is a valuable addition to your set of clinical skills. Using some of your CPD hours to train is your first step to unlocking these advantages. Whether you’d simply like to expand the treatment options your current place of work offers, or are looking for a skills’ boost that will aid your next career goal, cosmetic acupuncture can help you get there.

Cosmetic Acupuncture Offers a Holistic Alternative to Patients

The purpose of CPD is to provide tangible benefits to your patients while helping you develop as a healthcare professional.

So, alongside the career advantages it offers to you, how does being able to offer cosmetic acupuncture as a treatment benefit patients? What can it offer that your current treatments cannot?

In a nutshell, it’s all about patient health, patient choice and patient wellness.

Cosmetic Acupuncture Encourages Healthy Skin by Encouraging a Natural Response

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to rejuvenate the complexion and ease skin conditions via a healing response.

Facial acupuncture works by encouraging the production of collagen and elastin through inserting small, fine needles into specific points in the face. This stimulates collagen production and blood circulation to the dermis layer of the skin, which results in a brighter, more toned complexion – together with many other benefits. Acupuncture practitioners target specific points depending on the needs of the patient – for example, if they want to remove cystic or hormonal acne.

In other words, it’s a treatment that works with the body’s natural healing powers rather than against them, unlike chemical treatments, which in general terms, paralyse the facial muscles to prevent wrinkles.

Cosmetic Acupuncture Treatments as an Alternative to Chemical Treatments

Cosmetic acupuncture treatment extends the skincare choices available to your patients to include procedures that have been used for thousands of years, without major side effects.

For some people, high-street creams and other products work perfectly. Others, however, have been stuck in a frustrating cycle of “try high-street product, see limited or negative results, discard, try another” for years. Similarly, Botox suits some, but others worry about long-term effects such as muscle atrophy, facial pain and drooping or swelling of the eyelids.

It’s all about giving patients a range of options to explore. Offering holistic therapies like cosmetic acupuncture alongside more established Western options empowers your patients to choose the option that works best for them.

Cosmetic Acupuncture Can Be Part of a Holistic Approach to Healthcare

As well as offering cosmetic benefits, facial cosmetic acupuncture can be incorporated as part of a more general wellness routine.

Increasingly, people are looking beyond the embedded mental health/physical health dichotomy in favour of a more holistic approach.

Cosmetic acupuncture, alongside other holistic treatments such as LED light therapy, isn’t simply about decreasing signs of ageing or removing fine lines – patients also report that their mood improves following cosmetic acupuncture treatment and that they feel calmer, more centred and more relaxed.

Could an Online Course be the Right Path for You? 

If there’s one word that describes the life of a healthcare professional, it’s ‘busy’. Your job, whilst rewarding, often requires you to work long shifts and unsociable hours whilst navigating stressful situations.

Add family obligations, general life admin and the need for an actual day off from it all every now and then into the mix – and fitting all your CPD hours in becomes somewhat of a challenge.

If you’re looking to expand your set of clinical skills, choosing the online learning route makes things significantly more accessible. With eLearning, you fit your training in around your life – rather than your life in around your learning.

Health Med. offers a range of fully accredited cosmetic acupuncture courses, all informed by the latest research and led by clinical experts. You learn at your pace, at times that suit you.

Check out our range of cosmetic acupuncture courses now.