Our skin is not only the largest organ in our body; it is also the one that makes the first impression for us. The skin is the organ that comes in contact with the rest of the world and gives us our identity. The skin is valued not just because it makes up our external appearance but because it is essential for general health.
Covering a total area of about 20 square feet, the skin performs many crucial functions in maintaining life and health. It prevents loss of moisture and dehydration by holding the body fluids in. It also helps regulate fluid loss through sweating. The skin protects us by maintaining our core body temperature and keeping the harmful bacteria away. It is also richly supplied by nerve ending, which helps us feel the heat of the sun, the coolness of rain and snow, the gentle touch of our loved ones, an itch, or even pain. The unique receptors present in the skin provide our bodies a full insight as to what is touching us.
Your skin health says a lot about you. Healthy skin is an asset for our bodies. When you look better, you feel better, giving your self-confidence a boost. Leading a healthy lifestyle coupled with good skincare can help prevent various skin problems.
One in three people suffers from skin problems at any given time. Acne, eczema, allergy, sunburn, dry skin, cold sores, psoriasis, dermatitis, and cancer are some of the most common skin disorders. (1)
No other organ demands so much attention than the skin, and that’s precisely why there is a huge focus on skin health. The global skincare market is estimated to be valued at 189.3 billion US dollars by 2025.
With so much money being spent on the skin alone, there is a need for a complementary approach for skin conditions. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy or PEMF is one such innovating and promising therapy that has shown potential benefits in skin repair and healing.
This article will explore PEMF therapy, how it works, and the skin repair benefits. We will also talk about if you are a good candidate for PEMF or if you should avoid it.
What Exactly Is PEMF?
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is a revolution in the realm of medical care.
It is a non-invasive technology that is centered on using low levels of electromagnetic radiation in any part of the body to restore its natural energy. It is used to resolve cellular dysfunction and support the overall wellness of the body.
It is a drug-free, painless alternative treatment modality that promotes accelerated healing for damaged tissues. It also decreases tissue inflammation, relieves injury-related pain, and even stimulates the organs.
So How Are The Electromagnetic Waves Related To Our Bodies?
Our cells require a certain amount of electromagnetic waves to function. A particular intensity and frequency of electromagnetic waves drive the cells in our body. There is a consistent requirement of such waves for the proper functioning of the cells. Factors like unhealthy diet and lifestyle disrupt the optimal electromagnetic field which leads to cellular deterioration. This gives rise to various health issues and diseases.
How Does The Skin Heal And What Is The Role Of PEMF In Skin Repair?
Before we move on to the role of PEMF in skin health, let’s begin by understanding how our skin heals.
Acute skin wounds heal in four distinct phases. (2) When the skin is injured, blood will start flowing. This is the first phase of healing known as “Hemostasis”. The blood begins to clot within a few minutes which ultimately leads to the formation of a dry scab. Not all skin injuries lead to bleeding. Skin damage caused by burns or pressure sores does not bleed.
After the formation of the scab, our bodies begin to protect the wound from infection. Within 24 hours white blood cells begin to migrate to the wound site. This makes up the second “Inflammatory phase” of healing. The wounds swell up and become red for some time.
Over the next 3 to 7 weeks, the third “Proliferative phase” of healing beings. New blood vessels open up in the wound site, which drives in more blood that carries oxygen, nutrients, and white blood cells.
The red blood cells help in the formation of collagen. These are tough fibers that make the wound foundation. Other extracellular matrix components and collagen fibers begin to fill in the wound which helps in tissue regrowth and rebuilding.
Remodeling is the final phase of wound healing, where newly formed granulation tissue in the wound begins to mature into scars. The tensile strength of the tissue is increased and eventually, the scar fades away.
Chronic wounds have a similar healing process; however, the phases are prolonged leading to the formation of non-healing ulcers. (3)
PEMF improves microcirculation. Magnetic therapy has been known to enhance the production of Nitric Oxide, which plays a key role in relaxing the vessels. The capillary blood flow is accelerated that results in the increased vascular filling. This improves the supply of nutrients and oxygen and removes metabolic wastes promptly. This leads to faster healing of wounds. (4, 5)
PEMF therapy also supports the healthy production of fibroblasts and collagen. These are the building blocks that stimulate the healthy repair of damaged skin, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Studies have reported that human fibroblasts have exhibited enhanced DNA synthesis when exposed to magnetic fields. It is also reported that PEMF decreases the doubling time of fibroblasts and induces the differentiation of fibroblast in cultures. (6,7)
The electromagnetic pulses generated by PEMF deeply penetrate the skin. They activate the cells, give them a burst of energy so that they can start their natural repair cycle. The end results: replication and production of healthy cells of the skin. (8)
What does the research say about the benefits of PEMF therapy on the skin?
Psoriasis
PEMF has been known to reduce inflammation. (9) In Psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder, inflammation speeds up the growth of the cells making the body produce new skin cells every few days. This leads to the buildup of the new cells on the skin surface making it scaly and itchy.
The effects of PEMF in the regression of psoriasis were investigated in 110 patients. 100% positive results were obtained in the scalp hair region, and 73-75% positive results in other sites. People with longstanding psoriasis responded better to PEMF treatments, so did people in their 2nd, 5th, and 6th decades of life. (10)
In another study, patients with psoriasis were given 15-minutes of PEMF treatment daily for three weeks. This resulted in a slight paling of the lesions. Moreover, inflammatory cell phagocytosis decreased and T-helper and natural killer cells increased, both of which indicate favorable clinical outcomes in psoriasis. (11)
Skin Rejuvenation
A 2017 study evaluated the clinical effects of PRMF in the rejuvenation of the skin of the face and neck. There were improvements in the skin parameters and a change in skin elasticity was observed with the use of PEMF. 70-100% of the study participants reported improvements in facial contours. The treatment was well tolerated by most patients. No significant pain or discomfort was reported, except slight tightening and redness that soon disappeared. (12)
Wound Healing
Yet another study conducted in 2015 reiterates the promising effects of PEMF in wound healing. Multiple chronic skin ulcerations in elderly patients were subjected to supportive PEMF therapy. After a few weeks of treatment, the ulcer showed major improvements and complete healing. (13) Similar results were obtained in 2007, where PEMF resulted in statistically significant acceleration of healing rate. (14)
Skin Cancer
Apart from its healing and anti-inflammatory benefits, PEMF also has anti-cancer benefits. The therapy has been shown to suppress tumor growth and trigger the death of melanoma cells, one of the commonly encountered skin cancers. (15)
Who Should Use PEMF?
PEMF can be used by people who want to reduce inflammation, lower pain levels, and speed healing.
Who Should Avoid PEMF?
PEMF therapy is generally safe. However, because it uses electromagnetic waves, it is contraindicated in:
- Pregnant women
- Juvenile Diabetes
- Epileptics
- In the acute phase of viral diseases
- Cancer
- Irregularities of heart rhythm (arrhythmias)
- People using pacemakers, insulin pumps, cochlear hearing implants
- Children
Are PEMF Therapy Devices Effective?
PEMF devices are well established, well-researched, and universally recognized for their effectiveness. There are many documented clinical studies that report the effectiveness of PEMF in musculoskeletal, cosmetic, and cardiovascular disorders.
The Takeaway
We are all attracted to a beautiful face and even aspire to have one. Even the most beautiful of facial structures can be unbalanced by flawed skin. Maintaining healthy skin will protect you from sickness, and prevent damage to internal structures. Our skin can be injured easily as it is constantly growing to keep up with the rigorous job of keeping our bodies safe. Innovative therapies like PEMF accelerate skin repair by promoting the growth of fibroblast, enhancing blood flow to the site of wounds, improving skin elasticity, and suppressing tumor growth. PEMF therapy can help if you want to look and feel your best.
References
1. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/skin-conditions-at-a-glance
2. Schultz GS, Chin GA, Moldawer L, et al. Principles of Wound Healing. In: Fitridge R, Thompson M, editors. Mechanisms of Vascular Disease: A Reference Book for Vascular Specialists [Internet]. Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2011. 23.
3. Mast, B A, and G S Schultz. “Interactions of cytokines, growth factors, and proteases
in acute and chronic wounds.” Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of theWound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society vol. 4,4 (1996): 411-20. doi:10.1046/j.1524-475X.1996.40404.x
4. Bragin, Denis E et al. “Increases in microvascular perfusion and tissue oxygenation via pulsed electromagnetic fields in the healthy rat brain.” Journal of neurosurgery vol. 122,5 2015): 1239-47. doi:10.3171/2014.8.JNS132083
5. Luigi, Cristiano, and Pratellesi Tiziano. “Mechanisms of Action And Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) in Medicine.” Journal of Medical Research and Surgery, 2020, pp. 1–4. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.52916/jmrs204033.
6. Liboff, A. R., et al. “Time-Varying Magnetic Fields: Effect on DNA Synthesis.” Science,
vol. 223, no. 4638, 1984, pp. 818–20. Crossref,https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6695183.
7. Rodemann, H. Peter, et al. “The Differentiation of Normal and Transformed Human Fibroblasts in Vitro Is Influenced by Electromagnetic Fields.” Experimental Cell
Research, vol. 182, no. 2, 1989, pp. 610–21. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4827(89)90263-2.
8. Funk, Richard Hw. “Coupling of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) therapy to molecular grounds of the cell.” American journal of translational research vol. 10,5 1260-1272. 15 May. 2018
9. Ross, Christina L et al. “The Use of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field to Modulate Inflammation and Improve Tissue Regeneration: A Review.” Bioelectricity vol. 1,4 (2019): 247-259. doi:10.1089/bioe.2019.0026
10. Castelpietra, R, and G Dal Conte. “Prime esperienze di trattamento della psoriasi mediante campi magnetici pulsanti” [Initial experiences in the treatment of psoriasis with pulsating magnetic fields]. Minerva medica vol. 75,40 (1984): 2381-7
11. Md, Pawluk Msc William, and Caitlin Layne. Power Tools for Health: How Pulsed Magnetic Fields (PEMFs) Help You. FriesenPress, 2017.
12. Oliveira, Thais Cristina Ferraz De, et al. “Effects of Multipolar Radiofrequency and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Treatment for Face and Neck Rejuvenation.” Dermatology Research and Practice, vol. 2017, 2017, pp. 1–5. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/4146391.
13. Guerriero, Fabio, et al. “Effectiveness of an Innovative Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Stimulation in Healing of Untreatable Skin Ulcers in the Frail Elderly: Two Case Reports.” Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine, vol. 2015, 2015, pp. 1–6. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/576580.
14. Athanasiou, Athanasios et al. “The effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields on secondary skin wound healing: an experimental study.” Bioelectromagnetics vol. 28,5 (2007): 362-8. doi:10.1002/bem.20303
15. Vadalà, Maria et al. “Mechanisms and therapeutic effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in oncology.” Cancer medicine vol. 5,11 (2016): 3128-3139. doi:10.1002/cam4.861
