If you suffer from sinus pressure or congestion, face massage for sinus may help relieve some of your irritation. Massaging the sinuses and the tissues around the sinuses can help relieve pressure and drain mucus-filled sinuses. There are different types of massage you can try, including a basic full face massage as well as massages designed for specific parts of your face. Remember, you can mix any of these techniques and massage just one or all of your sinuses.
Do a Basic Face Massage for Sinus
1. Rub your fingers with your hands and fingers to keep them warm.
Warm hands and fingers are more soothing to the sinuses than cold ones. Cold hands and fingers can cause muscle tension.
One option is to apply a small amount of oil (about a quarter size) on the palm of your hand. This oil helps reduce friction caused by rubbing your hands against your face. The smell of the oil may also help promote relaxation. Good oils for sinus massage include almond oil, baby oil, or castor oil. Make sure you don’t get anything in your eyes when you massage around these areas.
2. Locate the indentation of the eye socket.
The indentations of the eye sockets are on either side of where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the brow. When pressure is applied to the area, it can help relieve colds, sinus congestion, frontal sinus headaches, and eyestrain.
Use your thumb. Thumbs are recommended as they tend to be stronger than other fingers. For others, it may be more comfortable to use the index finger. Do whatever is most soothing and comfortable for you.
3. Press directly on the depression of the eye socket with your fingers.
Do this for a minute. The pressure you apply should be somewhere between comfortable and firm.
Then, press your fingers into the area and move them in a circular motion for two minutes. Close your eyes while massaging this area.
4. Apply pressure to the cheeks.
Move your thumb, or your index and middle fingers, so that they rest on the sides of your cheeks, just outside each nostril. It can help relieve nasal congestion and sinus pain when pressure is applied to the area.
Apply firm, continuous pressure to the cheeks for about a minute.
Then, move your fingers in a circular motion for two minutes.
5. If you feel any pain, please stop the massage.
This basic massage may feel a little intense if your sinus pressure increases, which is normal. However, if you experience any deep pain, you should stop and try alternative treatments or consult your doctor.
For Specific Sinuses
1. Massage the frontal sinus.
Your frontal sinuses are located in the forehead area. Apply lotion or massage oil to warm hands to help fingers smooth over face without friction. Place both index fingers between the eyebrows in the center of the forehead. Use circular motions; reach your fingers from between your eyebrows to your temples.
Repeat this movement 10 times using constant, firm pressure.
Make sure your hands are warm before starting this massage. Rub your hands together to create a little friction and heat.
2. Try massaging the ethmoid/sphenoid sinus.
These are your sinuses. Pour a small amount of massage oil or lotion into your hands and rub them together to warm them up. Run your index finger down the side of the bridge of your nose; this will help promote drainage. As you move up to the top of your nose (the bridge of the nose), use your index finger to draw a small circle next to the corner of your eye.
However, do not touch your eyes or let the oil get into your eyes. The oil won’t hurt your eyes, but you may experience stinging.
Repeat this movement 10 times while applying constant, firm pressure.
3. Learn how to massage the maxillary sinus.
Again, apply lotion or massage oil to your hands and rub them together to warm them up. Press down with your index finger on each cheek near the outer corner of your nostril. Using small circular motions, bring your fingers along the cheekbones to the ears.
Repeat this action 10 times. Again, you should use firm pressure here to maximize stress relief.
4. Use the nose rub technique to relieve sinuses.
This technique is recommended for people with sinus problems, stuffy nose and nasal congestion. Rub the oil by hand. Rub the tip of your nose in circular motions with the palm of your hand and repeat 15 to 20 times.
Change direction and rub your nose 15 to 20 times in a circular motion. For example, if you rub your nose clockwise for the first 15 movements, rub your nose counterclockwise for the next 15 movements.
5. Attempt to drain the sinuses by massaging.
Pour a small amount of lotion onto your hands and rub them together. Using moderate pressure, massage with your thumb from the middle of your forehead to your ears. Repeat this action two to three times.
Put your thumb in the middle of your nose and start massaging your ears. Repeat this action two to three times.
Place your thumbs under your chin and extend your thumbs down the sides of your neck to your collarbone.
Effective Tools to Improve the Results of Facial Sinus Massage
The right tools can improve our sinus massage, the following products are our recommended tools for sinus massage.
1. Rose Quartz Gua Sha.
Select the prominent, smaller part to massage. Natural stone is believed to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties in Chinese medicine theory, and it can transmit our force more evenly to the massaged area.
2. Green Jade Roller.
A beauty tool that is currently very popular on Instagram and TikTok, but it is actually a very old beauty tool with a history of hundreds of years.
It works almost the same as a scraping pad, but it creates a more soothing force to massage our skin.
The above two tools are recommended to be warmed in warm water (not more than 50 degrees) before use, because their own properties cause them to be in a low temperature state in most cases.