Can Microcurrent Cause Bell's Palsy, What to Know
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
Read bio
Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
Read bio
Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
Read bio
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
Read bio
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
Share
We found no evidence that microcurrent causes Bell's palsy, but sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face is a medical emergency that needs urgent care, and anyone with a facial nerve condition should ask their doctor before using a device.
This article covers the facts, such as:
- what Bell's palsy is
- whether microcurrent can cause it
- the link between microcurrent and facial nerve conditions
- what to do if your face droops
- using a device after Bell's palsy
and many more!
If you have any sudden change in your face, see a doctor before reading anything else.
Key Points:
Bell's palsy is a sudden weakness of the muscles on one side of the face caused by a problem with the facial nerve.
We found no published evidence that microcurrent causes Bell's palsy.
Industry accounts describe physicians using microcurrent for facial nerve conditions such as Bell's palsy before it became a cosmetic treatment.
Sudden facial drooping can also be a sign of stroke, so get emergency care straight away.
After Bell's palsy, use a facial device only with your doctor's approval.
What Bell's palsy is
Bell's palsy is a sudden weakness of the muscles on one side of the face caused by a problem with the facial nerve. It often improves over weeks to months, and a doctor should diagnose and manage it.
Can microcurrent cause Bell's palsy
We found no published evidence that a cosmetic microcurrent device causes Bell's palsy. These devices use very low current measured in microamps.
Long term safety is covered in our long term side effects article.
Microcurrent and facial nerve conditions
Industry accounts describe physicians using microcurrent for facial nerve conditions such as Bell's palsy before it became a cosmetic treatment. See our history of microcurrent.
That is a medical use under supervision, not something to try at home with a beauty device.
If your face suddenly droops
Stop using the device and get emergency medical care straight away. Sudden facial drooping can be a sign of stroke as well as Bell's palsy, and only a doctor can tell the difference.
Using a device after Bell's palsy
Ask your doctor or physical therapist before using any facial current device, and follow their advice on timing and which side to treat.
Uneven sagging that develops slowly over years is different, covered in our article on one side of the face sagging.
Signs that need urgent care
Sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face, including the forehead or mouth.
Trouble closing one eye or smiling evenly.
Slurred speech, weakness in an arm or leg, confusion or a severe headache alongside facial changes.
These signs need emergency care straight away, whether or not you have used a device. A light tingle during a session, by contrast, is normal, as explained in our article on what microcurrent feels like.
Other reasons not to use a device
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and work with any water-based conductive serum.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Can microcurrent cause Bell's palsy
We found no published evidence that it does.
Is microcurrent used to treat Bell's palsy
Industry accounts describe medical use for facial nerve conditions under supervision. It is not a home treatment.
What should I do if my face droops after using a device
Stop and get emergency care straight away, since facial drooping can be a sign of stroke.
Can I use microcurrent after Bell's palsy
Only with your doctor's approval.
Can microcurrent damage facial nerves
We found no evidence that cosmetic microcurrent damages facial nerves.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.