Ultrasound is an acoustic wave with a frequency of more than 20 kHz, which causes mechanical, thermal and physicochemical reactions in body tissues. The action of ultrasound on the skin causes a micromassage effect, i.e. the movement of skin molecules, which results in an increase in the permeability of cell membranes and an improvement in cell metabolism. Ultrasound is used to combat wrinkles, cellulite, skin flabbiness, discolouration, scars and many other conditions.
Ultrasound, or acoustic or sound waves, whose frequency exceeds 20 kHz, are waves that are inaudible to humans because their frequency exceeds the threshold of hearing of the human ear. Like all sound waves, they are longitudinal waves that interact with living organisms and their tissues, causing mechanical, thermal and physicochemical reactions.
Themechanical response of the tissue to ultrasound is that, under the influence of the propagating ultrasound wave, a rhythmic movement of the tissue molecules is induced, in accordance with the motion of its propagation, involving alternate contraction and contraction of the molecules. This has the effect of increasing the permeability of cell membranes, i.e. a micromassage, which facilitates the removal of unnecessary metabolic substances from the tissue in question, including fat and toxins deposited in its cells. The action of ultrasound is therefore aimed at improving microcirculation, increasing the permeability of cell membranes and thus increasing and accelerating cell metabolism.
It is worth noting that the mechanical, thermal and physicochemical effects of sound waves are not isolated, i.e. their sound wave simultaneously affects the tissues in these three areas. The mechanical action is the introduction of skin particles into motion, the effects of which are listed above. The thermal action is the conversion of mechanical energy into heat, which dilates the blood vessels, i.e. increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin in the skin. It also improves the condition of the nervous system and has an analgesic effect. The physicochemical effect is an acceleration of the metabolism in the skin by improving the pH of its surface, increasing the absorption of nutrients or having a bactericidal effect.
Due to its properties, ultrasound has found its application in cosmetics and is used to combat such ailments as acne vulgaris, rosacea, skin pigmentation disorders, wrinkles, poorly tightened skin (skin flaccidity), scars, cellulite, dilated blood vessels or swelling and dark circles in the eyes.
It is not only cosmetics that benefit from the effects of ultrasound , as it is also used as a therapeutic treatment for conditions such as osteoarthritis pain syndromes, back pain, knee pain, hip osteoarthritis, heel spurs or trigeminal neuralgia.
Contraindications for the application of ultrasound include, among others, pregnancy, tumours, skin allergies, bacterial, viral and fungal skin diseases, numerous telangiectasias, purulent lesions on the skin, heart rhythm disorders or implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers, venous thrombosis, circulatory disorders, conditions after injections of, among others, botulinum toxin, feverish states, advanced neuroses, osteoporosis or uncompleted bone growth.
