Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat to ExpectAppropriate UsesWhen to See a DoctorDuring Your Facial
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What to Expect
Appropriate Uses
When to See a Doctor
During Your Facial
Acne facials are marketed as a treatment that can help clear blackheads and blocked pores. Though there isn’t strong evidence that they are effective for everyone, some people may find them helpful.
This article looks at acne facials, when they should be used, how they are done, and what to expect when you get one.
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There isn’t a clear answer about whether acne facials are effective. How well they work for you will depend on variables like the severity of your acne, your home skincare routine, and how often you get the treatment.
It is important to know that you won’t clear your skin with just one treatment. As with anyacne treatment medications and procedures, it takes time to get results and you will typically need a series of acne facials.
Facials may be scheduled once a week to once every other week for severe acne, then every four to six weeks when it is under control. But you can’t rely on facials alone to get your skin clear. To keep the benefits going, you’ll need to be consistent with your acne treatment and skincare routine at home during your “off days.”
The skill of theestheticianperforming your treatment also plays a huge role in the improvement you see. If your goal is to improve blemishes, you’ll get the best results from a therapist who specializes in treating problem skin. Don’t be afraid to ask the esthetician about theirexperience with treating acne.
What Is an Acne Facial?
During a facial treatment, the esthetician will manually release pore blockages and comedones in a process calledcomedonal extractions. Although your esthetician won’t be able to remove every pesky blackhead and whitehead during the first visit, enough should be done to give you an immediate improvement in the look and feel of your skin.
Although extractions remove existing non-inflammatory breakouts, they don’t stop them from forming. Keep up with daily acne treatments between facials, whetherover-the-counter acne productsorprescription medications, to keep breakouts from coming back.
How to Practice Acne Self-Care
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:20 to more than 100 comedones15 to more than 50 inflamed bumps30 to more than 125 total lesionsFor cases like these, prescription medications may be needed. You should also see a dermatologist if you feel acne is having a negative impact on your quality of life, even if you don’t meet the above definitions.
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. You should also see a dermatologist if you feel acne is having a negative impact on your quality of life, even if you don’t meet the above definitions.
This isn’t to say that that you can’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.
If you’re unsure whether your acne is moderate or severe, it’s important to defer to a dermatologist’s advice. Anesthetician is not a medical professional, and a facial used inappropriately may end up causing more harm than good.
How a Facial Is Performed
The esthetician will use products to reduce surface oil, remove dead skin cells, soothe, or hydrate. Your esthetician can also recommend products for at-home use, like cleansers and moisturizers, that won’t aggravate your acne.
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.
If you decide to make facials a part of your skincare routine, remember that you’ll get the best results if they’re done regularly. Be sure to tell your esthetician about all topical and oral medications you’re currently using to avoid unwanted reactions.
Vigorous exfoliation should be avoided if takingisotretinoinor using topical retinoids like Differin (adapalene),Retin A (tretinoin), or Tazorac (tazarotene). Each of these accelerates skin shedding. Exfoliation may end up causing redness, swelling, and a raw, inflamed appearance.
Summary
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. Make sure your esthetician knows what products you use on your face so your facial won’t end up causing additional skin problems.
A Word From Verywell
Although having a facial done at the salon is relaxing and in some cases may help with breakouts, acne facials aren’t a necessity to get acne under control. In fact, facials aren’t even thebestway to get acne under control.
If you consistently break out, especially if your pimples are deep, widespread, and/or inflamed, prescription acne medications might be the best options for treating acne. 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.
If a dermatologist is already treating your acne, you should always talk to them before having any facial treatment done at the salon. And always let your esthetician know you’re under a dermatologist’s care so that you’ll get a treatment that’s appropriate for your skin.
Treating Acne With Light Therapy
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.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.cd011154American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skin care habits that can worsen acne.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.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.cd011154American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skin care habits that can worsen acne.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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.cd011154American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skin care habits that can worsen acne.
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.
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