India, June 27 -- Gua sha is one of the most commonly featured stars in the skincare rituals you see on your feed. Even a quick scroll through Pinterest will show you that these pretty pastel tools have become an integral part of the everyday self-care aesthetic. But these tools aren't a product of the digital age; the roots can be traced back many centuries. While trends come and go, don't mistake gua sha for another skincare fad because it may have got real substance.

Dr Sonali Kohli, Senior Consultant Dermatologist at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, spoke to HT Lifestyle about gua sha's history and benefits.

She said, "Gua sha, or 'to scrape away illness' in Chinese, is an old healing modality that has been in use for...