Though there isn’t strong evidence that they are effective for everyone, some people may find them helpful.
It is important to know that you won’t clear your skin with just one treatment.
But you’ve got the option to’t rely on facials alone to get your skin clear.
Tim E White Collection / Photolibrary / Getty Images
The skill of theestheticianperforming your treatment also plays a huge role in the improvement you see.
Don’t be afraid to ask the esthetician about theirexperience with treating acne.
Acne facials work best for people withcomedonal acne.
This throw in of acne is characterized by blackheads and whiteheads.
If you primarily havecomedonesor other non-inflammatory blemishes, facials can usually help improve the skin’s appearance.
During a facial treatment, the esthetician will manually release pore blockages and comedones in a process calledcomedonal extractions.
Although extractions remove existing non-inflammatory breakouts, they don’t stop them from forming.
Considerations
Not all cases of acne can (or should) be treated in the salon setting.
Acne is more than an aesthetic problem; it’s a dermatologic condition.
Treating acne often requires medical intervention that looks beyond the skin to the underlying cause.
As a rule, you should see a dermatologist if havemoderatetosevere acne.
This is defined as anything from:
For cases like these, prescription medications may be needed.
This isn’t to say that that you might’t enjoy or benefit from regular facials.
An esthetician can offer treatments complementary to a healthcare provider’s care.
Some dermatologists even employ estheticians to perform facials in their offices.
How a Facial Is Performed
During a facial, the esthetician begins by thoroughly cleansing the skin.
Various masks,steam baths, and a facial massage may be incorporated into the treatment.
The esthetician will use products to reduce surface oil, remove dead skin cells, soothe, or hydrate.
If the skin is at all inflamed, extractions should be held to a minimum if done at all.
No one, not even an esthetician, should attempt to extract deep inflamed blemishes such asnodulesandcysts.
Each of these accelerates skin shedding.
Exfoliation may end up causing redness, swelling, and a raw, inflamed appearance.
Summary
People with mild to moderate acne may benefit from getting regular acne facials.
When performed by an esthetician, this procedure can help improve the look of your skin.
It can’t, however, prevent acne from returning.
This is why it’s important to follow a good skincare routine in between acne facials.
If you are thinking about getting an acne facial, be sure to discuss this with your dermatologist.
Some kinds of acne facials shouldn’t be done on people who are using certain acne medications.
In fact, facials aren’t even thebestway to get acne under control.
You’ll get far better results with these than with facials alone.
However, acne treatment facials can be helpful in removing blackheads and leaving your face feeling smoother and softer.
Use them as an add-on to your daily acne treatment medication.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Acne: overview.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: why only a dermatologist should do it.
Yang Z, Zhang Y, Lazic Mosler E, et al.Topical benzoyl peroxide for acne.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2014;6:CD011154 doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011154
American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skin care habits that can worsen acne.
