Lymphatic Drainage and Your Skin: The Wellness Trend That Actually Has Science Behind It

If you've scrolled through TikTok in the past year, you've probably encountered it: a woman gliding a smooth jade or rose quartz stone across her cheekbones, moving in careful upward strokes toward her hairline and down her neck. Or perhaps you've seen the face yoga videos, the "lazy girl" facial massage routines, the before-and-after transformations claiming dramatic de-puffing results. Lymphatic drainage has officially gone viral.

But here's what separates this wellness trend from so many that have come before: there's actually substance beneath the social media spectacle. Lymphatic drainage isn't a twenty-first-century invention cooked up by influencers. It's a therapeutic technique with roots stretching back nearly a century, developed by medical professionals and studied in clinical settings. The science of the lymphatic system—long overlooked in dermatology—is finally getting the attention it deserves, and what researchers are discovering about the connection between lymphatic function and skin health might change how you think about your entire skincare routine.

This matters beyond the quest for a sculpted jawline or less puffy under-eyes. Your lymphatic system is intimately connected to inflammation, immune function, and your skin's ability to heal and regenerate. Understanding how to support it doesn't just address cosmetic concerns—it addresses the underlying biology that determines how your skin responds to everything from a hard workout to a stressful week.

On our Washington State farm, we've watched this trend with interest. As a family of athletes—our household includes NCAA Division I competitors in track and field—we understand firsthand how physical demands affect the body. And as skincare formulators who've spent years researching inflammation, circulation, and skin health, we see the lymphatic conversation as an invitation to go deeper. Beyond the gua sha tools and the viral videos lies a fascinating system that most people know nothing about, and understanding it can transform your approach to taking care of your skin.

What Is the Lymphatic System, and Why Should You Care?

Before we talk about drainage, we need to talk about what's being drained.

The lymphatic system is often called the body's "second circulatory system," though that description undersells its importance. Unlike the blood circulatory system—which has the heart to pump blood through arteries and veins—the lymphatic system operates without a central pump. It's a network of thin-walled vessels and small bean-shaped structures called lymph nodes that runs throughout your entire body, including an extensive network just beneath the surface of your skin.

The fluid moving through this system is called lymph. Think of lymph as your body's cleanup crew. As blood circulates through your capillaries, some fluid leaks out into the spaces between your cells—the interstitial space. This fluid carries nutrients to your cells and picks up waste products, cellular debris, proteins, and other substances that need to be removed. The lymphatic vessels collect this fluid and transport it back toward the heart, filtering it through lymph nodes along the way. Those lymph nodes contain immune cells that identify and neutralize pathogens, damaged cells, and other threats.

Here's what makes this relevant to your skin: the skin contains one of the body's most extensive lymphatic networks. Research published in the Journal of Dermatological Science describes two primary plexuses of lymphatic vessels in the skin—one lying just below the junction between the epidermis and dermis, and another deeper in the dermis and subcutaneous fat. These vessels are responsible for draining fluid from your skin tissues and play a critical role in immune surveillance and inflammatory responses.

When your lymphatic system is functioning well, fluid moves efficiently from your tissues back into circulation. When it's sluggish—whether from lack of movement, stress, illness, or other factors—that fluid can accumulate. The result? Puffiness, swelling, and in some cases, a cascade of inflammatory responses that can affect skin health and appearance.

A 2024 scoping review published in PMC examined the relationship between lymphatic function and inflammatory skin disorders, concluding that the lymphatic system is "essential in maintaining skin health through coordinated immunological actions." The researchers noted that lymphatic vessels serve as main transport routes for inflammatory mediators and immune cells, and that dysfunction in this system can contribute to conditions ranging from eczema and psoriasis to impaired wound healing.

This is the foundation of why lymphatic drainage has captured so much attention. If your lymphatic system affects inflammation, immune function, and fluid balance in your skin—and if you can support its function through manual techniques—you potentially have a tool that addresses root causes rather than just symptoms.

The Danish Physiotherapist Who Changed Everything

The story of lymphatic drainage as a therapeutic technique begins in the 1930s with a Danish man named Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid, a naturopath. The couple was working at a physical therapy institute in France, treating patients with various chronic conditions. Vodder had developed an intense fascination with the lymphatic system—an organ system that, at the time, was poorly understood and largely ignored by the medical establishment.

What Vodder noticed in his patients changed the trajectory of his career. Many of those suffering from conditions like chronic sinusitis, migraines, and acne presented with swollen, hard lymph nodes in their necks. Where conventional medical wisdom of the era considered enlarged lymph nodes problematic structures to be surgically removed, Vodder wondered if they might be symptomatic of something else entirely: congestion in the lymphatic drainage pathways.

His hypothesis was straightforward but revolutionary for its time. If the lymph nodes were congested, the tissues they served weren't being properly drained. This accumulation of fluid and waste products could be the underlying cause—or at least a significant contributing factor—to his patients' conditions. What if gentle massage could help unblock these drainage pathways?

Working intuitively, Vodder developed a technique of light, circular, pumping movements that he applied to the lymphatic system. The pressure was notably gentler than typical massage—this wasn't about working deep into muscle tissue, but about stimulating the movement of lymph through vessels that lay just beneath the skin's surface. According to historical accounts from the Dr. Vodder School, his first patient saw their symptoms disappear completely after ten sessions.

Vodder and his wife spent the next several years refining their technique, studying anatomical atlases of the lymphatic system, and documenting their results. In 1936, they presented their method—which they called Manual Lymph Drainage, or MLD—at a conference in Paris. The medical establishment was skeptical. At the time, no one could imagine that gentle manual manipulation could significantly affect the lymphatic system. The Vodders were largely dismissed.

But they persisted. Throughout the 1950s, Vodder lectured across Europe. By the 1960s, physicians began taking notice. A pivotal moment came when Professor Mislin studied Vodder's technique and confirmed that the specific movements did indeed accelerate the contraction rate of lymph vessels. "If Vodder had not created this special method," Mislin reportedly said, "we would have had to invent it."

Today, Manual Lymph Drainage is practiced worldwide. It's recognized as a valuable therapeutic intervention for lymphedema—a serious condition involving chronic swelling—and is used in post-surgical recovery, cancer treatment support, and management of various inflammatory conditions. The Vodder School has trained thousands of therapists across dozens of countries. What began as one man's intuition about neglected organs has become an established field of manual therapy.

This history matters because it grounds the current social media trend in something more substantial. When you see someone using a gua sha stone on their face, they're engaging—whether they know it or not—with principles that Emil Vodder first articulated nearly a century ago. The tools and techniques have evolved, but the underlying concept remains: support the flow of lymph, and you support the health of the tissues it serves.

From Medical Therapy to Viral Phenomenon

Fast forward to 2024, and lymphatic drainage has achieved something unexpected: mainstream popularity. Research from Longevita found that lymphatic drainage massage accumulated over 1 billion views on TikTok, making it one of the platform's most popular skincare trends. Face yoga—which includes lymphatic drainage components—topped the list at 2.9 billion views. Gua sha, the ancient Chinese technique that promotes lymphatic movement, clocked in at over 610 million views.

The appeal is obvious. In a world of expensive treatments and complicated routines, here's something that promises visible results with nothing more than your hands or an inexpensive tool. The before-and-after images are compelling—de-puffed jawlines, reduced under-eye bags, a more sculpted facial appearance. One viral TikTok user documented her year-long gua sha journey, showing dramatic changes that inspired millions of viewers to try the technique themselves.

But the viral nature of the trend has also created confusion about what lymphatic drainage can and cannot do. Social media claims have ranged from the plausible (reducing puffiness) to the dubious (significant weight loss) to the unsubstantiated (removing "toxins" from the body). As with any wellness trend that goes viral, reality has gotten tangled with marketing hype.

Let's be clear about what the science actually supports. According to Cleveland Clinic, lymphatic drainage massage can help if your lymphatic system isn't working as it should. The technique is particularly beneficial for people with conditions that cause lymphatic congestion—post-surgical swelling, lymphedema, certain chronic illnesses. For healthy individuals, facial lymphatic drainage may increase blood circulation and reduce puffiness, giving skin a "glowing boost."

What the science is less enthusiastic about is the idea that healthy people need lymphatic drainage to function normally. As Dr. Stanley Rockson, co-founder of the Lymphatic Education and Research Network, explained to National Geographic: "If the system is already working at the appropriate capacity, then lymphatic massage isn't really going to visibly do anything." He notes that whatever effects lymphatic massage produces will be temporary—lasting four to six hours at most for a healthy person.

This doesn't mean the trend is without merit. It means understanding what you're actually accomplishing. For most people, facial lymphatic massage offers temporary cosmetic benefits: reduced puffiness, improved circulation, a brighter appearance. It's not going to permanently reshape your face or detoxify your organs. But as part of a comprehensive skincare approach—especially for those dealing with inflammatory conditions, frequent puffiness, or recovery from physical stress—supporting lymphatic flow can be genuinely beneficial.

The Skin-Lymphatic Connection: What Researchers Are Discovering

While social media focuses on cosmetic results, researchers have been uncovering something more fundamental about the relationship between lymphatic function and skin health.

A landmark paper in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology examined the structure and function of the cutaneous lymphatic system—the lymphatic network within the skin. The researchers described how lymphatic vessels in the skin consist of thin-walled capillaries lined by a single layer of endothelial cells. Unlike blood vessels, these lymphatic capillaries lack a continuous basement membrane, which allows them to readily absorb fluid and larger molecules from the surrounding tissue.

The skin's lymphatic system isn't just passive drainage. Research published in Cancer Discovery describes skin as "a highly ordered immune organ that coordinates rapid responses to external insult while maintaining self-tolerance." Within this immune organ, lymphatic vessels play an active role—transporting immune cells, inflammatory mediators, and antigens to lymph nodes where immune responses are mounted.

When this system dysfunctions, the consequences extend beyond puffiness. The 2024 scoping review in PMC examined how lymphatic problems contribute to inflammatory skin disorders. The researchers found that inflammation causes blood vessels to leak inflammatory factors, leading to edema. Healthy lymphatic vessels dilate in response, allowing fluid and inflammatory cells to enter and be removed from inflamed tissue. When lymphatic function is impaired, this resolution process stalls—inflammation persists, fluid accumulates, and the skin's healing capacity is compromised.

This has implications for conditions that affect millions. Research has linked lymphatic dysfunction to psoriasis, where inflammatory cytokines like IL-17A appear connected to disease duration and severity. Studies on atopic dermatitis (eczema) suggest that impaired lymphatic drainage may contribute to chronic inflammation. Even the skin aging process appears connected to lymphatic function—one study found that reduced lymphatic vessel density correlates with aged skin's diminished ability to clear inflammatory mediators.

For athletes, this research is particularly relevant. Physical training creates controlled inflammation—that's how muscles adapt and grow stronger. But the resolution of this inflammation depends partly on efficient lymphatic drainage. If lymph isn't moving well, inflammatory byproducts can accumulate in tissues, potentially prolonging recovery time and contributing to chronic soreness.

Our family knows this firsthand. With multiple Division I track and field athletes in the household—competing in high jump, pole vault, hurdles, and multi-events—we've lived the reality of training-induced inflammation. The research on lymphatic function helps explain why some recovery strategies work better than others, and why supporting circulation and drainage isn't just about feeling good—it's about optimizing the body's ability to adapt to physical stress.

Movement: The Body's Natural Lymph Pump

Here's something the gua sha videos often fail to mention: your lymphatic system's most powerful pump isn't a tool or a massage technique. It's movement.

Unlike the blood circulatory system, which has the heart to drive circulation, the lymphatic system relies on external forces to move lymph through its vessels. The primary driver is skeletal muscle contraction. When your muscles contract during movement, they squeeze the lymphatic vessels, pushing lymph forward. One-way valves in the vessels prevent backflow, ensuring that lymph moves progressively toward the thoracic duct and back into the bloodstream.

Deep diaphragmatic breathing provides another pumping mechanism. As the diaphragm contracts during inhalation, it creates pressure changes that help draw lymph upward through the body. This is why practices that emphasize deep breathing—yoga, meditation, certain forms of exercise—may support lymphatic function.

Gravity also plays a role, though not always in helpful ways. When you spend hours sitting or standing, lymph can pool in the lower extremities, leading to swelling in the ankles and legs. This is why health experts recommend taking breaks from prolonged sitting, elevating legs periodically, and incorporating movement throughout the day.

The implication is clear: if you want to support your lymphatic system, the foundation is regular physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle creates conditions where lymph stagnates. An active lifestyle keeps the system flowing. Manual techniques like lymphatic massage can supplement this—particularly for the face and areas less affected by muscle contraction—but they're not a substitute for movement.

This is one reason why the current lymphatic drainage trend, despite its commercial success, sometimes misses the bigger picture. Using a gua sha tool for five minutes while spending the rest of the day immobile addresses a tiny fraction of what your lymphatic system needs. The most effective approach combines regular movement with targeted techniques for areas—like the face—where gravity and lack of muscle activity can allow fluid to accumulate.

For athletes, this understanding reframes recovery. Practices like gentle movement on rest days, contrast therapy (alternating hot and cold exposure), and even something as simple as elevating the legs after training all support lymphatic flow. The same principles that make lymphatic facial massage effective—gentle pressure, directional movement toward drainage points—can be applied throughout the body.

The MSM Connection: Why Inflammation Matters

If lymphatic function is partly about clearing inflammatory mediators from tissue, then anything that modulates inflammation becomes relevant to this conversation.

This is where a compound called MSM—methylsulfonylmethane—enters the picture. MSM is an organic sulfur compound found naturally in some plants and animals, and it's become a popular dietary supplement with research supporting its anti-inflammatory properties.

A comprehensive review published in Nutrients examined the evidence on MSM's mechanisms and applications. The researchers noted that MSM appears to operate "at the crosstalk of inflammation and oxidative stress at the transcriptional and subcellular level." Multiple studies have shown that MSM can reduce inflammatory markers in response to exercise-induced stress—exactly the kind of inflammation that athletes experience and that the lymphatic system must clear.

One particularly relevant study published in PMC examined MSM supplementation in the context of strenuous exercise. The researchers found that MSM supplementation dampened the acute induction of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β and IL-6 following an intense bout of eccentric exercise. Perhaps more interestingly, they found that MSM appeared to protect against stress-induced immunosuppression—the participants who took MSM maintained robust immune responses even after exhaustive exercise that typically impairs immune function.

The connection to lymphatics is logical. If MSM reduces the inflammatory load in tissues, it potentially reduces the burden on the lymphatic system to clear those inflammatory mediators. It's supporting the same overall goal—resolution of inflammation and restoration of tissue homeostasis—through a different mechanism.

This is why every product in our line contains MSM. When we formulated products for our family of athletes—products designed to support active skin that faces regular physical stress—MSM was a foundational ingredient. The research on its anti-inflammatory effects, its potential to enhance skin permeability (some studies suggest it helps other active ingredients penetrate more effectively), and its support for collagen and keratin synthesis all aligned with what we wanted to accomplish.

Early patents on MSM claimed it could "enhance circulation" and "improve wound healing." While the scientific evidence for some of these applications remains limited, the documented anti-inflammatory effects provide a mechanism through which these benefits could occur. When inflammation is modulated, tissues can return to normal function more quickly. That includes the normal function of lymphatic vessels.

The practical application is that topical products containing MSM may complement manual lymphatic techniques. You're addressing inflammation both mechanically—through massage that moves fluid and inflammatory mediators toward drainage points—and biochemically—through compounds that reduce the inflammatory response at its source.

Fresh Goat Milk and the Circulation Connection

When we talk about supporting skin health through topical applications, the delivery system matters as much as the active ingredients. This brings us to something we understand intimately on our Washington State farm: the difference between fresh goat milk and the powdered reconstituted milk that most "goat milk skincare" companies use.

Fresh goat milk contains naturally occurring lactic acid—one of the alpha hydroxy acids prized in skincare for its gentle exfoliating properties. But the lactic acid in fresh milk doesn't exist in isolation. It's embedded in a matrix of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals that have an established relationship with human skin. The pH of fresh goat milk (around 6.5-6.7) is remarkably close to healthy skin's natural pH, making it inherently compatible with the skin barrier.

When goat milk is powdered—subjected to high heat to evaporate water content, then spray-dried into powder—this matrix is disrupted. Enzymes denature. Lactic acid degrades. The complex nutritional profile that makes fresh milk beneficial for skin is diminished. When that powder is later reconstituted by adding water back in, you're not restoring what was lost.

This matters for lymphatic support because healthy skin function depends on an intact barrier. The skin barrier is your first line of defense against environmental stressors, and it's intimately connected to immune function—the same immune function that the lymphatic system supports. Fresh goat milk's complete nutritional profile, including its ceramides and fatty acids, helps maintain this barrier rather than disrupting it.

The fatty acids in goat milk are also relevant to circulation and absorption. Medium-chain fatty acids, which are particularly abundant in goat milk, can temporarily and reversibly increase skin permeability, potentially allowing better absorption of beneficial compounds. This doesn't mean goat milk is "opening up" the skin in a harmful way—it means it's working with the skin's biology to enhance the delivery of its own nutrients.

From our farmhouse in rural Washington State, we see the complete journey from animal to product. When our goats are milked, that milk travels less than 100 feet to our formulation facility. It goes into products while it's still genuinely fresh—not reconstituted from powder, not shipped across the country, not sitting in warehouses. The difference between what we do and what most "goat milk skincare" companies do is the difference between a fresh-squeezed orange and Tang.

This freshness isn't just a marketing story. It's a functional difference that affects how the product interacts with your skin. And when you're thinking about lymphatic health, skin barrier integrity, and the overall ecology of your skin—everything is connected.

Athletes and Lymphatic Health: A Natural Partnership

The current lymphatic drainage trend is dominated by cosmetic applications—the pursuit of a more sculpted face, less puffiness, a better photo. But for athletes, the implications of lymphatic function extend to performance and recovery.

Consider what happens during intense training. Exercise creates controlled damage to muscle tissue—microtears that stimulate adaptation and growth. This process generates inflammation, which is necessary for healing but must be resolved for recovery to complete. Metabolic waste products accumulate. Fluid leaks from blood vessels into interstitial space. The lymphatic system is responsible for collecting this fluid and clearing these waste products.

When researchers have examined lymphatic function in athletes, they've found that physical activity generally supports lymphatic flow—those muscle contractions are the primary pump. But there are limits. Intense training can temporarily impair lymphatic function. And for areas like the face and neck, which don't benefit directly from the pumping action of exercising muscles, lymph can accumulate.

A study in the Journal of Sports Medicine examined skin barrier function in collegiate athletes compared to non-athletes. Athletes showed significantly lower ceramide levels in their stratum corneum—a marker of barrier compromise. The constant cycle of sweating, showering, and environmental exposure takes a toll. And when the skin barrier is compromised, the immune and inflammatory functions connected to that barrier—including lymphatic drainage—can be affected.

This is why manual lymphatic techniques may be particularly relevant for athletes. Not as a substitute for the natural lymphatic pumping that movement provides, but as a supplement—especially for the face and areas less well-served by skeletal muscle contraction.

Our family's NCAA Division I athletes have experimented with various recovery modalities over the years. We've done the contrast therapy—alternating between cold plunge and sauna. We've prioritized sleep, nutrition, and movement on rest days. And we've paid attention to skin health in ways that most sports performance conversations ignore. The skin isn't just an aesthetic concern. It's an organ that interfaces with the environment and participates in immune function and inflammation. Supporting it—including supporting its lymphatic drainage—is part of supporting the body as a whole.

The Gua Sha Phenomenon: Ancient Technique Meets Modern Interest

No discussion of lymphatic drainage trends would be complete without addressing gua sha—the ancient Chinese technique that has become synonymous with facial lymphatic massage on social media.

Gua sha, which translates literally to "scraping sand," originated as a therapeutic technique in traditional Chinese medicine. Historically, it was used on the body with vigorous scraping motions intended to release what practitioners called "sha"—small, red dots that appeared on the skin after treatment, believed to represent the release of stagnation and toxins. Traditional gua sha on the body is quite different from the gentle facial gua sha that has gone viral.

The facial adaptation of gua sha uses smooth stones—typically jade or rose quartz—applied with light pressure in specific patterns across the face and neck. The technique has been modified for the delicate facial skin, replacing the aggressive scraping of traditional practice with gentle gliding motions designed to stimulate lymphatic flow and blood circulation.

According to Dr. Jenelle Kim, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine interviewed by ABC News, the "sha" in gua sha refers to small red dots that appear when blockages in the body are released through the scraping motion. However, the facial gua sha popular on social media typically doesn't produce these marks because of the lighter pressure used. What it does do is stimulate the movement of fluid through the lymphatic vessels, temporarily reducing puffiness and promoting circulation.

One TikTok user's 13-day gua sha transformation video garnered over 16 million views and 3 million likes, demonstrating the dramatic before-and-after results that have driven the trend's popularity. Board-certified acupuncturist Dr. Laurel Liu has shared techniques emphasizing the importance of starting at the back of the neck, near the hairline, to "activate the lymphatic drainage first before practicing facial gua sha."

The key to effective facial gua sha lies in understanding the technique's relationship to lymphatic anatomy. The goal isn't to scrape or manipulate muscle tissue—it's to gently encourage lymphatic fluid to move toward the drainage points in the neck. This requires light pressure (remember, lymphatic vessels are superficial), consistent directional movement toward the lymph nodes, and proper preparation of the skin with a product that allows the tool to glide smoothly.

For those interested in incorporating gua sha, the basic principles are straightforward:

Start with a facial oil, serum, or cream that provides adequate slip for the tool. This serves two purposes: it prevents tugging on the skin, and it ensures that as you're massaging, you're also delivering beneficial compounds to the skin.

Begin at the neck, stroking downward toward the heart. This "opens" the drainage pathway so that fluid moved from the face has somewhere to go.

Progress to the face, using gentle upward and outward strokes. Follow the natural contours of your bone structure—along the jawline, across the cheekbones, around the eye area. Always move toward the hairline and then down toward the neck.

Use light pressure—lighter than you probably think necessary. The lymphatic vessels are delicate and superficial. Heavy pressure doesn't improve results and may cause damage.

Consistency matters more than duration. A few minutes daily will produce better results than occasional lengthy sessions.

The tool itself is less important than the technique. While jade and rose quartz gua sha stones are popular, some practitioners achieve similar results using their fingers or other smooth implements. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare notes that while jade rollers and gua sha tools can help, "there is no hard science to support claims that it stimulates collagen, diminishes dark circles, or decreases inflammation" beyond the temporary effects of improved circulation and lymphatic drainage.

This is important context for setting realistic expectations. Gua sha can temporarily improve facial appearance by reducing puffiness and increasing blood flow. It may help products absorb better by stimulating circulation. It can be a relaxing ritual that encourages mindfulness about skin health. What it cannot do is permanently restructure your face, eliminate wrinkles through collagen stimulation, or "detox" your body in any meaningful sense.

For us on the farm, the appeal of these techniques lies in their simplicity and their alignment with how we think about skin health. They're not replacing active skincare ingredients—they're complementing them. When you apply a cream formulated with fresh goat milk and MSM, then massage it in using lymphatic drainage techniques, you're combining the biochemical benefits of the product with the mechanical benefits of the massage. You're working with your skin's biology at multiple levels simultaneously.

What We've Learned from Athletes About Circulation and Skin

The athletic dimension of lymphatic health deserves deeper exploration, because it reveals principles that apply far beyond competitive sports.

When you train hard—whether you're a Division I track athlete or someone who simply enjoys regular workouts—your body undergoes controlled stress. Muscles experience microdamage that stimulates adaptation. Metabolic waste products accumulate. Inflammatory mediators flood the tissues as the healing process begins. This is all normal and necessary. The question is how efficiently your body resolves this inflammation and clears these byproducts.

The lymphatic system is central to this resolution. The inflammatory fluid that accumulates in worked muscles needs to be collected and transported to lymph nodes where it can be filtered and returned to circulation. The efficiency of this process directly affects recovery time. Athletes with better lymphatic flow—supported by proper movement, hydration, and recovery practices—can generally train more consistently than those whose lymphatic systems are sluggish.

Our family has experimented extensively with recovery modalities. Cold plunge, sauna, contrast therapy, compression, elevation—we've tried them all. What we've observed aligns with what the research suggests: no single modality works magic, but the combination of practices that support circulation and lymphatic flow consistently produces better outcomes than passive rest alone.

This has shaped how we think about skincare for active people. The skin of an athlete faces specific challenges. Frequent sweating disrupts the skin barrier. Outdoor training exposes skin to UV radiation and environmental stressors. The cycle of intense exertion followed by cleansing can strip protective oils. And if the lymphatic system in the skin is compromised—as research suggests it often is in athletes with lower ceramide levels—the skin's ability to manage inflammation and immune responses may be impaired.

Products designed for athletic skin need to address these challenges specifically. They need to support the barrier rather than strip it. They need to provide anti-inflammatory benefits that complement the body's natural resolution processes. They need to work with the skin's biology, including its lymphatic function, rather than against it.

This is why MSM became foundational to our formulations. The research on MSM and exercise-induced inflammation specifically—not just general anti-inflammatory effects—made it ideal for products designed for active people. When you apply a cream containing MSM after training, you're supporting the same anti-inflammatory resolution that the lymphatic system is working to achieve. You're addressing the challenge from multiple angles.

Fresh goat milk serves a similar function from the perspective of barrier support. The fatty acids, proteins, and naturally occurring vitamins in fresh milk help maintain the skin barrier that athletes so often compromise through their training and hygiene routines. When the barrier is healthy, the skin's lymphatic system can function normally. When the barrier is damaged, everything downstream is affected.

The lessons from athletic skin apply more broadly. You don't need to be a competitive athlete to benefit from practices and products that support circulation, modulate inflammation, and maintain the skin barrier. Modern life presents its own stressors—environmental pollution, chronic stress, sedentary work habits—that can compromise skin function in similar ways. Understanding how to support the systems involved, including the often-overlooked lymphatic system, benefits everyone.

Practical Guidance: How to Support Lymphatic Function

If you want to incorporate lymphatic support into your routine, here's what the evidence actually supports—stripped of social media exaggeration but grounded in the science we've discussed.

Move daily. This is foundational. Your lymphatic system needs muscle contraction and deep breathing to function. No tool or technique can substitute for regular physical activity. If you have a sedentary job, build in movement breaks throughout the day. Even brief walks, stretching, or a few minutes of deep breathing can help maintain lymphatic flow.

Address the face specifically. The face lacks the skeletal muscle activity that drives lymphatic flow in the limbs and torso. Manual techniques—whether gua sha, facial massage, or simply using your hands—can help move lymph from the face toward the drainage points in the neck. The key principles: light pressure (the lymphatic vessels are superficial), directional movement toward the lymph nodes (down the neck toward the heart), and consistency (benefits are temporary, so regular practice matters more than occasional intense sessions).

Support your skin barrier. Healthy lymphatic function in the skin depends partly on healthy skin overall. This means using products that nourish rather than strip the barrier. It means avoiding harsh cleansers that disrupt pH. It means providing adequate moisture and protection. Fresh goat milk products, with their barrier-compatible pH and nourishing fats and proteins, are one approach. The goal is working with your skin's biology rather than against it.

Consider inflammation modulation. Compounds like MSM, with documented anti-inflammatory effects, may support the same goals as manual lymphatic drainage through different mechanisms. By reducing the inflammatory load in tissues, you reduce what the lymphatic system needs to clear. This isn't a substitute for other practices, but a complement to them.

Mind your recovery practices. For athletes or anyone under physical stress, recovery modalities that support circulation also support lymphatic flow. Contrast therapy, gentle movement on rest days, adequate hydration, and attention to sleep all contribute. The lymphatic system doesn't operate in isolation—it's part of an integrated whole.

Manage expectations. Lymphatic drainage techniques can temporarily reduce puffiness and improve facial appearance. They support overall skin health as part of a comprehensive approach. They are not going to permanently reshape your face, detoxify your organs, or produce dramatic weight loss. The benefits are real but modest, and they require consistent practice rather than one-time interventions.

Beyond the Trend: Integrating Lymphatic Awareness

The current viral interest in lymphatic drainage presents an opportunity. For too long, the lymphatic system has been overlooked—a "second circulatory system" that received far less attention than the first. Medical education historically devoted minimal time to lymphatics. Dermatology focused on blood vessels while largely ignoring the lymphatic network in the skin. The recent surge of interest, even if driven by cosmetic motivations, has brought attention to a genuinely important aspect of human biology.

What would it look like to integrate lymphatic awareness into how we think about skin health? It would mean recognizing that skin is not just a surface to be treated with active ingredients. It's an organ with complex circulatory, immune, and inflammatory functions. Supporting skin health means supporting all of these functions—not just targeting wrinkles or blemishes.

It would mean understanding that inflammation is not something to be universally suppressed. Inflammation is a necessary healing response. What matters is resolution—the process by which inflammation completes its work and the tissue returns to homeostasis. The lymphatic system is central to this resolution. Supporting lymphatic function supports the body's natural ability to heal.

It would mean valuing movement and circulation as fundamental to health. The sedentary modern lifestyle creates conditions where lymph stagnates, inflammation persists, and tissues struggle to maintain optimal function. No skincare product can fully compensate for a lack of movement. But products and practices that support circulation complement the foundation that movement provides.

The Morning and Evening Integration

For those wondering how all of this comes together practically, consider how lymphatic awareness might integrate into a daily routine.

In the morning, after cleansing, apply your moisturizer or treatment product—something with ingredients that support the skin barrier and modulate inflammation. Our Face Cream, with its fresh goat milk base and MSM content, is designed for exactly this purpose. Rather than simply patting it on and moving to the next step, take an extra minute to massage the product into your skin using upward and outward strokes. You don't need a gua sha tool—your fingertips work perfectly well. Start at the center of your face and move toward the hairline, then down the neck toward the collarbones.

This simple addition accomplishes multiple things simultaneously. The massage promotes lymphatic drainage, potentially reducing morning puffiness. The directional movement supports product absorption. The ritual itself creates a moment of intentionality that many people find grounding as they begin their day.

In the evening, especially after physical activity or a particularly demanding day, you might spend more time on the lymphatic component. This is when many people reach for their gua sha tools—the evening ritual becoming an opportunity for genuine relaxation alongside the physical benefits. Apply a richer product (our Colostrum Cream, with its premium anti-aging profile and nourishing carrier oils, works particularly well for evening use), and take several minutes to work through a lymphatic drainage sequence.

If you've been training—running, lifting, or otherwise pushing your body—this is also an opportunity to extend the practice beyond the face. Apply a product designed for athletic recovery (like our Active Cream or Muscle Cream) to worked muscles using the same principles: gentle pressure, directional movement toward the heart and major lymph nodes, allowing the massage to support both product absorption and lymphatic flow.

The integration of product and technique reflects how we think about skincare at Artisan. A cream isn't just a delivery vehicle for active ingredients—it's an opportunity to engage with your skin in a way that supports its natural functions. The mechanical component of massage and the biochemical component of beneficial compounds work together, each enhancing the other.

What Customers Tell Us About Circulation and Skin Feel

Over the years, we've collected countless pieces of feedback from customers who've experienced our products. While we can't make medical claims—and wouldn't want to—certain themes emerge that align with everything we've discussed about circulation, lymphatics, and skin health.

Customers frequently describe our products using language that speaks to absorption and feel. "My skin drinks this cream up." "Doesn't feel greasy." "Actually absorbs." These comments reflect products designed to work with the skin's biology rather than sitting on the surface.

Athletes in particular often note the difference in how their skin feels after using products formulated with their needs in mind. One review of our Active Cream described it as "works like magic, reducing recovery time and minimizes soreness"—language that captures the experience of supporting the body's natural recovery processes.

The frustration many people express about other products—"My face felt like it was on fire," "It just sits on my skin without absorbing at all," "Does the bare minimum"—often reflects products that work against rather than with skin function. Harsh acids that disrupt the barrier. Films that block rather than facilitate. Synthetic compounds that the skin doesn't recognize as compatible.

When products are formulated with fresh, whole ingredients in bases that the skin can work with—like the fresh goat milk that forms the foundation of our formulations—the experience is different. Not because of magic, but because of compatibility. The skin recognizes the fatty acids, the proteins, the naturally occurring vitamins. The product integrates rather than sits. The massage that follows becomes more than mechanical movement—it becomes part of a process that the skin participates in.

This is what we mean when we talk about working with the skin's biology. It's not a marketing phrase. It's a design philosophy that considers the skin as a living system with circulatory, immune, and inflammatory functions that can be supported or undermined by the products applied to it.

On our Washington State farm, we think about these connections constantly. The goats that provide our milk are healthy, active animals that spend their days outdoors. The milk they produce carries the nutritional complexity that nature intended—fresh, unprocessed, alive with beneficial compounds. When we formulate products, we're thinking not just about what goes onto the skin but about what the skin actually needs: barrier support, inflammatory modulation, compatibility with its natural biology.

The lymphatic system is one piece of this puzzle. It's connected to everything else—to immune function, to inflammation, to the skin's ability to clear waste and regenerate. Supporting it isn't a separate endeavor from the rest of skincare. It's part of understanding skin as the remarkable, complex organ it actually is.

The Bigger Picture

Trends come and go. Gua sha may eventually fall out of fashion, replaced by the next viral technique. But the underlying biology won't change. Your lymphatic system will continue to serve its essential functions: draining fluid, transporting immune cells, supporting the resolution of inflammation. Understanding this system—rather than just following trends—gives you something more valuable than any specific technique.

What Emil Vodder intuited in the 1930s, and what modern research is confirming, is that the lymphatic system deserves attention. Not the aggressive attention of manipulation and force, but the gentle support of movement, circulation, and appropriate care. The skin's lymphatic network is part of what makes skin a living, responsive organ. Supporting it supports everything that organ does.

For those of us formulating skincare, this understanding shapes our approach. Fresh goat milk, MSM, compounds that work with the skin's natural biology rather than against it—these choices reflect an appreciation for skin as an integrated system. For those using skincare products, the invitation is to think beyond individual ingredients to the whole ecology of skin health.

The lymphatic drainage trend, for all its social media simplification, points toward something real. Your body has a remarkable system for maintaining tissue health, modulating inflammation, and supporting immune function. Learning to support that system—through movement, through gentle manual techniques, through products that nourish rather than disrupt—is worth the effort. Not because it promises miracles, but because it respects the biology you already have.

And on a farm in Washington State, where the goats graze and the formulations come together and athletes train and recover, we're continuing to learn what that respect looks like in practice.

References

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2. Vodder School International. Manual Lymph Drainage History. Retrieved from https://vodderschool.com/manual_lymph_drainage_history

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11. Withee, E. D., et al. (2017). Effects of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on exercise-induced oxidative stress, muscle damage, and pain following a half-marathon: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14, 24.

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14. National Geographic. (2024). What lymphatic drainage massage actually does for your body. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/lymphatic-drainage-massage-therapy-wellness

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16. ABC News/Good Morning America. (2021). What's gua sha? Chinese medicine experts explain TikTok's viral skin care technique.

17. Ryan, T. J. (1988). The structure and pathophysiology of skin lymphatics. In R. M. Marks, S. P. Barton, & C. Edwards (Eds.), The Physical Nature of the Skin. Springer, Dordrecht.

18. Kim, L. S., et al. (2006). Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 14(3), 286-294.

19. Flow Lymphatic Health Clinic. (2021). History and Techniques of Manual Lymph Drainage.

20. Vaughn, A. R., et al. (2017). Skin barrier function in athletes. Journal of Sports Medicine, 8, 89-94.