Changes in Facial Skin Elasticity and Hydration after Electroacupuncture Pen versus Facial Acupressure, Each Combined with a Honey Mask: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Ayly Soekanto; Putu Oky Ari Tania; Andra Agnez Al Aska; Hardiyono

doi:10.30742/jikw.v15i2.5574

Authors

Ayly Soekanto Bagian Anatomi Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
Putu Oky Ari Tania
Andra Agnez Al Aska
Hardiyono Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Dhyana Pura University, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30742/jikw.v15i2.5574

Abstract

Background: Skin aging is accompanied by reduced facial skin elasticity and hydration, and non-invasive facial treatments are increasingly used to address these changes. Objective: This study evaluated changes in facial skin elasticity and hydration after electroacupuncture pen or facial acupressure combined with a honey mask and examined their association before and after intervention. Method: This quasi-experimental two-group pretest-posttest study included 60 women aged 30–50 years (30 per group) with non-random allocation. Participants received 24 sessions, three times weekly. Group 1 received 20-minute electroacupuncture pen stimulation followed by a 30-minute honey mask, while Group 2 received 20-minute facial acupressure followed by the same honey mask. No untreated or honey-only control group was included. Outcomes were measured before and after session 24 using a handheld skin analyzer. Paired t-tests assessed within-group changes, Welch’s t-test compared change scores between groups exploratorily, and Pearson correlation assessed elasticity-hydration associations. Results: Facial skin elasticity increased by 18.90 and 13.73 points in the electroacupuncture pen and acupressure groups, respectively, while hydration increased by 22.67 and 33.43 points (all within-group p < 0.001). Exploratory between-group comparisons showed greater elasticity improvement with electroacupuncture (difference 5.17 points; p < 0.001) and greater hydration improvement with acupressure (difference 10.76 points; p < 0.001). No significant correlations between elasticity and hydration were found before or after intervention in either group (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: Both interventions significantly improved outcomes. However, between-group differences are exploratory and cannot establish superiority due to non-randomization, shared honey-mask treatment, and no untreated or honey-only control.

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