Are Microcurrent Treatments up to 1000 μA Safe?

Microcurrent treatments have been around for over forty years now: the therapy was first introduced in the 1970s, and in the 1980s it was used to stimulate the muscles in those suffering from Bell's Palsy. Since then, microcurrent has been used to help with various ailments and conditions, such as osteoarthritis, tendon healing, and back pain, to improve blood circulation, to reduce edema and swelling, and to fasten wound healing - and there has been medical research to prove its effectiveness. 

Today, due to its face-lifting effects, it is also used as an anti-aging treatment, not only in beauty clinics. Since at-home microcurrent devices appeared on the market, more and more people have been using them as a non-invasive anti-aging treatment, with fans including Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Aniston. If you're new to microcurrent, this article will explain why we need it in the first place, how it works, how it affects ATP production (and why that is important for anti-aging), and which microcurrent intensity gives the best results safely.  

Microcurrent Facial Benefits

When talking about microcurrent as a beauty treatment, we use it to tackle wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin - the consequences of aging, which can be accelerated by other factors such as unhealthy lifestyle, stress, sun damage, harmful inflammation, etc. As we age, we inevitably lose collagen and elastin - the most abundant proteins in our body, which give the skin structural support and elasticity (the ability to stretch and shrink back), or in short, that plump, youthful look we want to keep for a bit longer. With time, the thin epidermis, connective tissues, and facial muscles weaken, which manifests through visible signs of aging, especially around the eyelid, jawline, and chin areas. 

Apart from a healthy lifestyle and protecting the skin from the sun and air pollution, we can also turn to anti-aging treatments, among which microcurrent stands out as a non-invasive yet very effective method. It increases blood flow, tightens and tones facial muscles, and promotes the production of ATP.  

What Does ATP Have to Do With Aging?

Adenosine Triphosphate, or ATP, is a molecule that acts as the cellular energy our body uses in its daily operations. When ATP breaks into ADP (Adenosine Biphosphate), the energy released by breaking a molecular bond is the energy that keeps us alive. ATP also assists with collagen and elastin production and regeneration of the cells. As we age, the production of ATP in our cells declines, which contributes to a breakdown of collagen and elastin and results in wrinkles, folds and fine lines, as well as sagging and uneven skin texture. 

Microcurrent facial tools have been proven to remarkably increase ATP concentrations in the tissue by emitting sub-sensory electrical currents that mimic the body's electrical signals. Since the body has the capacity to store ATP, it then resides there until needed.  

How Does Microcurrent Work to Increase ATP?

Microcurrent devices emit very low levels of electrical current, increasing ATP production by the movements of protons, as described by Mitchell's chemiosmotic theory. This theory claims that a difference in the concentration of charged particles (protons) across the inner membrane of mitochondria helps create ATP from ADP. 

Microcurrent devices have two electrodes: when you apply constant microcurrent to the skin using those electrodes, it creates a flow of ions (charged particles) in two directions. Positive ions move towards the negative electrode (cathode), and negative ions move towards the positive electrode (anode). At the same time, water molecules decompose at the electrodes attached on the skin surface - they cause formation of protons (positive hydrogen ions) at the positive electrode, which then move towards the negative electrode. This flow of protons helps to increase ATP production in mitochondria.  

Which Microcurrent Intensity Gives Best Results?

Research has shown that electrostimulation of the tissue results in the increase of ATP concentration in the cells by up to 400% when currents from 50 μA to 1000 μA are applied. The same research claims that only the currents higher than 1000 μA may adversely affect metabolism. Stimulation over 1000 microamps causes plateauing and then decrease in ATP levels. 

Microcurrent treatments up to 1000 μA are proven to remove and reduce facial wrinkles, as well as improve scarring, acne, and face rashes. When treating the face, microcurrent stimulates facial muscles (just how exercise tones and strengthens the muscles of your body!), increases blood flow, and promotes collagen and elastin production. As a result, the skin above has a smoother and more lifted appearance, more sculpted contour, and less visible wrinkles.   

Tighten, Tone, and Lift Safely With BEAR™ 2's 680 Microamps

BEAR™ 2 is the world's first FDA-cleared medical microcurrent device with Anti-Shock System™ and four revolutionary types of microcurrent. BEAR™ 2 boasts 680 μA of microcurrent, which makes it the strongest and, thus, the most effective device on the market. This non-invasive facelift device is clinically proven to significantly improve deep wrinkles, fine lines, skin firmness, and elasticity in just 1 week (with 98% of users reporting healthier, brighter, plumper, and more nourished skin) without any of the potential complications connected to the invasive treatments such as surgery. 

It effectively tones the 69 muscles in your face and neck, which results in a more contoured and lifted appearance. While increasing ATP levels, microcurrent boosts collagen and elastin production, firming the face and combating wrinkles and fine lines. By stimulating microcirculation and delivering oxygen and essential nutrients to cells, it plumps skin and accelerates its renewal process, fades pigmentation, and boosts radiance.  

Gentle T-Sonic™ massage improves lymphatic drainage, which helps to reduce fluid retention and eliminate toxins, decreasing puffiness. Four types of microcurrent are unique to this device only, each with its particular benefits. 

Advanced Microcurrent™ is a steady current that stimulates muscles to strengthen them while tightening the skin above. 

Lifting Microcurrent™ staggers current from low to high frequency, gently coaxing the muscles into naturally lifting for a contoured look. 

Tapping Microcurrent™ sends quick and short waves of current flow through the upper layers of the skin to brighten and plump. 

Sculpting Microcurrent™ channels microcurrent deeper into muscles to effectively tone them, for a firm and sculpted appearance. 

 When BEAR™ 2's metal spheres make contact with your skin, the microcurrent increases gradually to avoid shocking your skin. The device measures how moist or dry your skin is at a rate of 200x per second to determine your skin's resistance to current. Then, it slightly adjusts the microcurrent within your chosen intensity level to best suit each square millimeter of your skin. And each time the metal spheres lose contact with the skin, the process restarts, so you can rest assured that each glide will help to tone your face safely - thanks to the patented Anti-Shock System™.   

For anything else you might want to know about BEAR™ 2 collection (and then some), here is an extensive list of questions and answers.