Our skin has never been under such pressure as it combats the daily stresses of modern life. So when laying out your bridal skin health plans, a 360-degree approach is vital. This is why we love the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approach to skin health as it starts from within - basically, what it means is that how your internal health influences your external skin health. Makes sense, right? This means taking into account health imbalances such as hormonal health, digestive complaints, sleep, stress and how these are affecting your skin health. And let's face it, these can all be affected by the pressure of wedding planning. That's why we asked Maeve O'Sullivan, co-founder of Escapada Health to do a deep dive into TCM and show us what a six-month skin health plan would look like, so as to help you decide if it could be the beauty prep path for you.

Skin products won't rebalance the internal things we mentioned before, so these are what need to be addressed before you go off splurging on expensive creams and treatments. This is why TCM offers holistic approach to skin health, working internally to optimise your health while simultaneously enhancing your skin. The aim is to create long-term changes in the health of the skin and body, not short-term quick fixes. Another big component of the TCM approach to skin health is your individual lifestyle and dietary influences - all aspects are taken into account.

Six Months Out

Health

Maeve advises a health consultation followed by an individualised programme of acupuncture, and nutritional and lifestyle advice. This is an ideal way to start working on the internal health, as many influential factors take time to rebalance. It's also important your acupuncturist gets to know you and your body so that when the big day comes closer, they can easily treat symptoms that may come up like stress, anxiety, digestive complaints, etc.

Nutrition

This is a great time to look at your nutritional intake as many brides can fall into diet culture and start eating foods that don't support and nourish their bodies and, of course, their skin. TCM nutrition focuses on eating foods that are right for your body type and constitution to help rebalance the above mentioned 'problem areas' when it comes to skin health. Starting with a mindset of deprivation or restriction can lead down a path of making these imbalances worse.  Advice will be on bringing in supportive foods and going on a journey of enjoyment and fun.

Lifestyle

It's important to start making these changes now so that they're well-oiled practices or rituals. Lifestyle factors that they commonly work through with brides at this point are stress management techniques or good sleep hygiene practices so when the big day looms closer, these are not new habits that you are trying to learn in last-minute stress.

Stress Management

You don't need to completely change your life to find balance. Instead, adapt your daily routine with small changes, applied with a wisdom and understanding of why they work. You can do these exercises through the day when you have a spare minute, in the car, while brushing your teeth - once you make them a habit they will come naturally.

Home Rituals

Introduce daily rituals such as facial cupping and gua sha as they increase microcirculation by up to 400 per cent. This smoothens and tones skin, reduces puffiness of the face and eyes, defines jawlines, drains the lymphatic system, minimises dark circles, reduces wrinkles and even decongests the sinuses.

3 Months Out

Begin Facial Rejuvenation Programme

Typically a programme is run over 6-12 weekly treatments so Maeve advises beginning at the three-month stage so to work through the full programme if required. Some brides may only need six-eight treatments. Her programme is an advanced signature cosmetic acupuncture approach that integrates Chinese medical wisdom with Western scientific interventions. It aims to achieve long-term effects in wrinkle reduction, skin sagging, dull and tired skin, and acne, rosacea and hormonal imbalances. Techniques include cosmetic acupuncture, medical microneedling and facial rejuvenation techniques such as gua sha, jade rolling and cupping. The application of peptide-infused masks and skincare botanicals, rich in natural active ingredients, further rebalance and nourish your skin's health. All this, combined with constitutional acupuncture to treat internal health, make this a complete 360° skin programme.

They also include light therapy, which assists in the skin regeneration process in five main ways:

• Increased circulation by increasing the formation of new capillaries.
• Stimulates the production of collagen. Increases lymphatic system activity. Oedema, which is the swelling or natural splinting process of the body, has two basic components - the liquid part, which can be evacuated by the blood system, and the second is comprised of the proteins that have to be evacuated by the lymphatic system. Research has shown that the lymph vessel diameter and the flow of the lymph system can be doubled with the use of light therapy.
• Stimulates fibroblastic activity that aids in the repair process.
• Stimulates tissue granulation and connective tissue projections. Part of the healing process of wounds, ulcers or inflamed tissues.

Each session of cosmetic acupuncture will include constitutional acupuncture to continue the work on the internal health. This is a good time for your acupuncturist to do a check in of where things are at at this point in terms of internal health. They will check in with nutrition too as tweaks may need to be made. A reduction, as much as possible at this point, in stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and sugar can really help with the results of cosmetic acupuncture as we are relying on the rejuvenation of the skin cellular processes for maximum results and these stimulants can slow the process.

1 Month Out

Check in for Skin Health

At this point you are generally at treatment six-eight within the rejuvenation programme so with a month to go it is the ideal time to assess the skin and see what the best course of action is. Sometimes the skin doesn't require any more treatment. It is also important to check in on the well-being of the bride and continue if needed with constitutional acupuncture. Typical concerns at this point range from stress and sleeping issues to digestive problems. It's important to keep these in check not only for skin health but so you enjoy the lead up to your big day. Adequate hydration is important as well as a check in on diet and rituals.

1 Week Out

It's always lovely to finish the programme with a facial. The Escapada x HAYOU facial involved three unique needle-free facial treatments which combine the highly effective technique of facial Tui Na massage and the gua sha tools and techniques of the Hayo'u Method. They are hugely relaxing and the skin is glowing, plumped and ready for the big day after it. Little golden ear seeds can also be placed in your ears on certain acupuncture points that are incredible for helping to relieve any stress and anxiety you may be feeling, leaving you glowing for your big day.

Maeve O'Sullivan is a TCM practitioner and co-founder of Escapada Health, see escapadahealth.com. Six-week Skin Scription service includes a health and skin consultation plus six treatments, €950. The three-month Skin Scription service includes a health and skin consultation plus 2 treatments, €1,900.

Looking for more great skin advice? Read our post on Your Complete Wedding Skincare Timeline For Treatments & Products and see our other beauty posts here!