The importance of Lymphatic Drainage for skin health

The Lymphatic System
How to perform Manual Lymphatic Drainage at home

What is the lymphatic system?
The lymphatic and vascular systems are considered the two major branches of the human circulatory system. Bound by their functional and structural similarities, the synergy between these two play an important role in the transportation of lymph and blood fluid.

The lymphatic system is made up of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes and fluid, and when functioning optimally, the system is responsible for maintaining favourable bodily immune processes. It does this by assisting in the removal of wastes, the transportation of macromolecules around the body, and maintaining fluid and protein balance which regulates wound repair and healing processes. The location of the body’s lymph nodes is demonstrated on the diagram below:

Structure of the lymphatic system
The lymphatic system can be classified by its superficial and deep layer divisions, which are separated by fascia. While the deep lymphatic system corresponds with the elimination of interstitial fluid from muscles, tendons, nervous tissues and joints, it is the superficial lymphatic network that facilitates drainage from cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues. The structure of cutaneous lymphatics enables clearance of fluids, macromolecules, cells, and foreign material from the dermis. These two systems work collaboratively, with lymph vessels situated in the dermis draining to lymphatic vessels in the subcutaneous level, then to the deeper division. The location of the body’s lymph nodes is demonstrated on the diagram below:

https://images.app.goo.gl/hTaNEr3zyn4haWPc6

The lymphatic system and the skin
A majority of what is known about the lymphatic system’s function has been related to and obtained by cancer related research, due to the ability of cancer to spread from a primary sites to other locations in the body via the lymphatic system. However, over the years more has come to be understood about the lymphatic system and its significance in the development of many inflammatory conditions, particularly of the skin, gastrointestinal tract and lungs. 

When the skin is inflamed, any overstimulation should be avoided. Manual lymphatic drainage techniques help to relax and gently stimulate white blood cells and lymph nodes do their job. This can be achieved by increasing lymphatic flow will do exactly that. Lymph nodes filter the fluid, trapping bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances, with stagnation or blockages mitigating the filtration process and increasing the amount of toxins in the blood and lymph. This can further contribute to the worsening of inflammatory skin conditions. 

What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle form of massage that is designed to assist in the movement of fluid within our lymphatic system. Since most of our lymphatic system sits within our skin, muscle movement and friction across the skin are some of the ways by which lymphatic function can be improved. Manual lymphatic massage works to move extra fluid from swollen areas towards the lymph nodes where they can be brought back into circulation.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage sequence

Deep breathing works like a pump in the body, stimulating the lymph nodes and vessels to move fluid. Deep breathing can be practiced at any time by placing your palms on your stomach and taking a deep breath, through your nose until your stomach pushes against your hands. Breathe out slowly through pursed lips, then let your stomach go flat. Take your time to do this, repeating 5-7 times.

Prepare your underarm lymph nodes to take in lymph fluid from your face and neck. Place your arm in a comfortable position where it is raised and supported. Placing your palm against your underarm, gently pull up and in toward your body, then release. Repeat on both underarms 10-15 times.

Move your hand down your chest in half circles from your clavicle toward your underarm. Massage your chest to help move the lymph fluid from your neck and chest to your underarm lymph nodes. Repeat on both sides 10-15 times.

Cross your hands and place the flats of your 2nd and 3rd fingers on your subclavicular lymph nodes. Gently press. Do the same for the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Repeat 10-15 times on each.

Repeat step 3, then 2.

Place your hand on the sternocleidomastoid muscle and move your hand down your neck towards your clavicle. Gently stretch the skin, not the muscles, then let go. Repeat on both sides 10-15 times.

Place your hand on the posterior cervical and move your hand down your neck towards your spine. Gently stretch the skin, not the muscles, then let go. Repeat on both sides 10-15 times.

Repeat step 6.

Move to face, by draining tonsilar nodes first, followed by the submandible and, and lastly, the preauricular and postauricular region.

Repeat step 6, then 4.

Gently massage the nodes within the buccinator muscle. 

Drain preauricular and postauricular, followed by the submandible.

Starting with both hands place gently against the sides of the face, stretch and recoil the skin towards to ears, working towards the centre of the face

Drain preauricular and postauricular area, down across the tonsilar nodes, and then the midjagular chain.

Gently massage under eyes, from the inner portion of the face to outer. Clear preauricular and postauricular region.

Gently stretch the skin on the forehead, moving from inner portion to outer potion. Clear preauricular and postauricular region.

Drain the tonsilar nodes, down across the midjagular chain, and then the clavical.

Massage submental triangle, then drain sinus downwards towards submandibular, clearing preauricular and postauricular region.

Finish with deep breathing.

Manual Lymphatic Massage Dos and Don’ts

Dos

Use a light pressure on your skin. The pressure of your hands should be just enough to gently stretch the skin 

Only stretch the skin as far as it can go without any pain. Release the pressure and let your skin come back as it was. If you can feel your muscles under your skin you are pressing too hard

Use the flat part (palms) of your hands instead of your fingertips. Your palms allow more contact with the skin to stimulate (pump) the lymph vessels

Massage when you are warm. If your muscles are warm, they are more flexible

Do self-massage every day

Don’ts

Do not self-massage if it causes pain

Do not do self-massage if you have an infection in the area that has swelling

Do not do self-massage if you think you have an infection. May include swelling and redness of the skin, pain or soreness, feeling hot or unwell, and fever or chills