Electrotherapy (cosmetic)

"Galvanism" Electrodes touch a frog, and the legs twitch into the upward position^[1]

Cosmetic electrotherapy is a range of beauty treatments that uses low electric currents passed through the skin to produce several therapeutic effects^[2] such as muscle toning in the body^[3]^: 226 and micro-lifting of the face.^[4] It is based on electrotherapy, which has been researched and accepted in the field of rehabilitation,^[5] though the "scientific and medical communities have tended to sideline or dismiss the use of electrotherapy for healthy muscles".^[6]

The use of electricity in cosmetics goes back to the end of the 19th century,^[7]^[8] almost a hundred years after Luigi Galvani discovered that electricity can make the muscle in a frog's leg twitch^[9] (see galvanism). Subsequent research in electrophysiology has been carried out by people such as Robert O. Becker, Dr Björn Nordenström,^[10] a former chair of the Nobel Selection Committee for Medicine, and Dr Thomas Wing,^[11]^[12] who invented some of the first micro-current devices.

^ David Ames Wells, The science of common things: a familiar explanation of the first principles of physical science. For schools, families, and young students., Publisher Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman, 1859, 323 pages (page 290)
^ "Introduction, Facial Electrical Manual, The Carlton Institute. 23 pages. (Page 2)
^ Jane Hiscock; Elaine Stoddart; Jeanine Connor (2004). Beauty Therapy, Level 3. Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-435-45640-5.^{[unreliable source?]}
^ Dawn Mernagh-Ward, Jennifer Cartwright, Health and beauty therapy: a practical approach for NVQ level 3, Edition 3, Publisher Nelson Thornes, 2004, ISBN 0-7487-9035-7, ISBN 978-0-7487-9035-7. 420 pages (page 109)
^ Robinson AJ, Snyder-Mackler, L. Clinical electrophysiology: electrotherapy and electrophysiologic testing 3rd ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2008;151-196, 198-237, 239-274
^ Kristin Schaefer Centofanti, "Electrical Stimulation for Health, Beauty, Fitness, Sports Training and Rehabilitation", Advances in Muscle Research, 2008, Volume 4 (Application of Muscle/Nerve Stimulation in Health and Disease), 69-116. (page 69)
^ See for example: "Dr Hardaway has remarked the wide usefulness of electrolysis in cosmetic manipulations." in The Medical Times and Register, Volume 16, (Author: Horatio Charles Wood), Publisher The Medical Publishing Company, 1886 (90)
^ In the treatment of scars (cicatrix): ".. electro-galvanic currents ought to remove cicatrical tissue of the skin, and thus prove of incalculable value as a cosmetic" in Eclectic medical journal, Volume 45, Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association, Published 1885, (page 99)
^ Thomas Thomson, An outline of the sciences of heat and electricity, Publisher Baldwin & Cradock, 1830. "Chapter VII: Of Electricity by Contact" (page 489)
^ Mark Woodhouse, Paradigm Wars: Worldviews for a New Age, Publisher Frog Books, 1996, ISBN 1-883319-42-0, ISBN 978-1-883319-42-7, 648 pages (page 192)
^ Deborah Powell, MicroCurrent for Horses (and other vital therapies you should know, Publisher Matrix Therapy Products, ISBN 0-9790774-0-0, ISBN 978-0-9790774-0-1 (page 15)
^ Cite error: The named reference mernagh2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] David Ames Wells, The science of common things: a familiar explanation of the first principles of physical science. For schools, families, and young students., Publisher Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman, 1859, 323 pages (page 290)

[2] "Introduction, Facial Electrical Manual, The Carlton Institute. 23 pages. (Page 2)

[HiscockStoddart2004-3] Jane Hiscock; Elaine Stoddart; Jeanine Connor (2004). Beauty Therapy, Level 3. Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-435-45640-5.^{[unreliable source?]}

[mernaugh2004p109-4] Dawn Mernagh-Ward, Jennifer Cartwright, Health and beauty therapy: a practical approach for NVQ level 3, Edition 3, Publisher Nelson Thornes, 2004, ISBN 0-7487-9035-7, ISBN 978-0-7487-9035-7. 420 pages (page 109)

[5] Robinson AJ, Snyder-Mackler, L. Clinical electrophysiology: electrotherapy and electrophysiologic testing 3rd ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2008;151-196, 198-237, 239-274

[6] Kristin Schaefer Centofanti, "Electrical Stimulation for Health, Beauty, Fitness, Sports Training and Rehabilitation", Advances in Muscle Research, 2008, Volume 4 (Application of Muscle/Nerve Stimulation in Health and Disease), 69-116. (page 69)

[7] See for example: "Dr Hardaway has remarked the wide usefulness of electrolysis in cosmetic manipulations." in The Medical Times and Register, Volume 16, (Author: Horatio Charles Wood), Publisher The Medical Publishing Company, 1886 (90)

[8] In the treatment of scars (cicatrix): ".. electro-galvanic currents ought to remove cicatrical tissue of the skin, and thus prove of incalculable value as a cosmetic" in Eclectic medical journal, Volume 45, Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association, Published 1885, (page 99)

[9] Thomas Thomson, An outline of the sciences of heat and electricity, Publisher Baldwin & Cradock, 1830. "Chapter VII: Of Electricity by Contact" (page 489)

[10] Mark Woodhouse, Paradigm Wars: Worldviews for a New Age, Publisher Frog Books, 1996, ISBN 1-883319-42-0, ISBN 978-1-883319-42-7, 648 pages (page 192)

[11] Deborah Powell, MicroCurrent for Horses (and other vital therapies you should know, Publisher Matrix Therapy Products, ISBN 0-9790774-0-0, ISBN 978-0-9790774-0-1 (page 15)

[mernagh2004-12] Cite error: The named reference mernagh2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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