Each esthetician has their own style, but acne treatment facials generally follow the same basic procedure.
Here’s what you’re free to expect during your first acne facial.
And these can be very detailed!
Stock Planets / Getty Images
Once changed, you’ll lie down on the treatment bed.
Your esthetician will begin by removing any makeup and doing a thorough cleansing.
The cleansing isn’t just for your face.
Your neck, chest, and shoulders may also be treated, depending on your acne concerns.
Facial Step 2: Steam Treatment
Some acne facial treatments include steaming with a specialsteamermachine.
It billows warm steam over your face for several minutes.
Although most people think the steam is to “open” thepores, that’s not really the case.
If the steam gets too warm for you, let your esthetician know.
They’ll move it back a few inches so you’re more comfortable.
Exfoliating procedures help remove dead skin cells and debris that can clog your pores.
An added benefit is it leaves your skin feeling super soft and smooth.
If you’re usingtopical retinoidsor isotretinoin, your esthetician will do an extremely gentle exfoliation or none at all.
That’s because these medications already ultra-exfoliate the skin.
Acne treatment facials are most helpful formild acne, minor blemishes, and mildcomedonal breakouts.
Formoderate acnetosevere acne, acne facials will not be incredibly helpful.
These more serious forms of acne should be treated by a dermatologist with prescription medications.
You’ll get much better results.
Extractions may not be entirely comfortable, but they offer benefits for acne care.
They shouldn’t hurt, so tell your esthetician if you’re feeling pain.
Benefits of Extraction
The benefit of extractions is that you’ll actually see improvement immediately.
Estheticians can’t extractinflamed blemishes, like cysts, either.
Only a dermatologist can drain a cyst.
It’s usually applied with a small brush.
Sulfurmasks are often used during acne treatment facials because sulfur can be helpful in clearing acne.
For super oily skin types, an oil-absorbing clay mask may be used instead.
Although toners and astringents are similar, and the terms are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences.
Astringents are meant to remove excess oil from the skin.
They leave the skin feeling fresh and looking matte.
Astringents often contain alcohol to give the skin a tight and cool feeling.
Toners, on the other hand, aren’t oil-removing.
They tend to be gentler so they’re appropriate for dry or sensitive skin types.
Unlike astringents, toners contain very little to no alcohol.
The esthetician will choose a toner or astringent for you, depending on your skin’s needs.
A light,noncomedogenicmoisturizer will be applied over your entire face, neck, and chest area.
Sunscreenis a must too, for all skin types.
Sun protection is important every day.
Daily sunscreen use will protect your skin frompremature aging, dark spots and uneven skin tone, andskin cancer.
But acne facials alone won’t completely clear your skin, so you’ll still need daily acne treatment.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.What Skincare Specialists Do.
Lees, M.Clearing Concepts: A Guide to Acne Treatment.
Chicago, IL: Cengage Learning.
2016;20(2):232-6.
2021 Feb;32(1):3-10. doi:10.1080/09546634.2019.1628173.
Pivot Point Academy.How to Perform a Facial Treatment.
Tang SC, Yang JH.Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin.Molecules.
2018 Apr 10;23(4):863. doi: 10.3390/molecules23040863.
2022 Aug;21(8):3398-3405. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14799.
2022 Jul 25;623:121903. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121903.
Craven, H.Face toners and astringents: which product and ingredients are best for my skin.dermcollective.
“Questions and Answers About Acne.”
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
National Institutes of Health.
Gerson, Joel; Ph.D.. Standard Textbook for Professional Estheticians.
Albany, NY: Milady Publishing.
Titus S, Hodge J.
Diagnosis and treatment of acne.American Family Physician.
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, Alikhan A, Baldwid HE, Berson D, et.
“Guidelines of Care for the Management of Acne Vulgaris.
“Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
