Face rollers are commonly used to give skin a more youthful appearance / RossHelen/shutterstock
Massage rollers are commonly used in beauty treatments to help stimulate the skin, aiding circulation and giving a more youthful and glowing appearance. But their effects on blood flow and the vascular system have remained unclear. Now a small study by Japanese researchers, however, has given some scientific backing to the subject.
Researchers from the Institute for Liberal Arts at the Tokyo Institute of Technology found that using a face roller can increase skin blood flow for more than 10 minutes after a massage. It was also suggested that the use of rollers can improve vasodilation – the widening of blood vessels – in the long-term.
The research team conducted short- and long-term experiments involving the participation of 26 healthy male and female volunteers to examine the effects of using a massage roller on facial skin and blood flow.
Among the findings of the short-term experiments were that even a five-minute massage resulted in “significantly increased facial skin blood flow” in the massaged cheek, with a relative change of up to around 25 per cent.
“The increase in skin blood flow after applying the massage roller persisted much longer than we had expected,” the study says. “Short-term mechanical stimulation by a facial massage roller increased skin blood flow for more than 10 minutes solely in the massaged cheek.”
In the long-term experiment, the researchers examined the effects of daily massage on the right cheek over a five-week period. They also examined the reactivity of facial blood vessels to a heat stimulus, involving application of a heating probe set at 40°C, in order to test whether there were any changes in vascular dilation response.
Findings from the long-term study suggested that using a roller improved blood flow response, or the so-called vasodilatory response, to heat stimulation. One explanation for this could be that endothelial cells in the massaged area produce more nitric oxide, which is known to be a potent vasodilator.
The research was published in November 2018 in the Complementary Therapies in Medicine journal.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 2
Promotional feature: Lemi - Italian Touch
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Interview: Dale Hipsh
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Face rollers are commonly used to give skin a more youthful appearance / RossHelen/shutterstock
Massage rollers are commonly used in beauty treatments to help stimulate the skin, aiding circulation and giving a more youthful and glowing appearance. But their effects on blood flow and the vascular system have remained unclear. Now a small study by Japanese researchers, however, has given some scientific backing to the subject.
Researchers from the Institute for Liberal Arts at the Tokyo Institute of Technology found that using a face roller can increase skin blood flow for more than 10 minutes after a massage. It was also suggested that the use of rollers can improve vasodilation – the widening of blood vessels – in the long-term.
The research team conducted short- and long-term experiments involving the participation of 26 healthy male and female volunteers to examine the effects of using a massage roller on facial skin and blood flow.
Among the findings of the short-term experiments were that even a five-minute massage resulted in “significantly increased facial skin blood flow” in the massaged cheek, with a relative change of up to around 25 per cent.
“The increase in skin blood flow after applying the massage roller persisted much longer than we had expected,” the study says. “Short-term mechanical stimulation by a facial massage roller increased skin blood flow for more than 10 minutes solely in the massaged cheek.”
In the long-term experiment, the researchers examined the effects of daily massage on the right cheek over a five-week period. They also examined the reactivity of facial blood vessels to a heat stimulus, involving application of a heating probe set at 40°C, in order to test whether there were any changes in vascular dilation response.
Findings from the long-term study suggested that using a roller improved blood flow response, or the so-called vasodilatory response, to heat stimulation. One explanation for this could be that endothelial cells in the massaged area produce more nitric oxide, which is known to be a potent vasodilator.
The research was published in November 2018 in the Complementary Therapies in Medicine journal.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 2
Promotional feature: Lemi - Italian Touch
From humble beginnings in a small Italian village, Lemi has grown a hugely successful global business in the massage bed market. As it celebrates its 30th anniversary year, we talk to GM Matteo Brusaferri
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Olivia Newton-John skincare, Sounds of Africa and jet lag butlers feature in our programming series
Interview: Dale Hipsh
The senior VP of hotels at Hard Rock International tells Katie Barnes why its music-centric spa menu is striking the right chord with consumers and the media
Promotional feature: ISPA
After almost three decades serving members and contributing to the growth of the industry, we talk to ISPA’s Crystal Ducker about the work of the association and the future of spa
Spa Design: Jungle VIP
Kim Megson ventures deep into Mexico’s jungle to discover how two Chablé resorts with Mayan spas are aiming to redefine wellness
Interview: John & Karina Stewart
The inspirational couple behind Kamalaya in Thailand talk to Neena Dhillon about emotional therapies, why stress-busting is the new detox and how they’re evolving the concept
Promotional feature: Gharieni - Luxury Recognition
Gharieni has long been known as an industry innovator. Now, Forbes Travel Guide has named the company as its official Spa & Wellness Equipment Manufacturer. Sammy Gharieni tells us more
Promotional feature: Comfort Zone - Beauty Reloaded
Skincare brand Comfort Zone has partnered with Wellness for Cancer to create a new programme of spa treatments for people touched by cancer. Barbara Gavazzoli tells us more
Family spa: Multi-story
With the rise in multi-generational tourism, family spas are growing in popularity. Jane Kitchen reports
Software: Training & education
From bespoke training programmes to 24/7 support teams and company super-users, how are software suppliers helping spas get the most out of their systems?
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
