Having a facial can make you feel pampered and luxurious, being able to enjoy a relaxing massage while knowing your skin will be glowing when you hop off the bed.
But not all facials are just about making you feel preened, as some are aimed at treating serious skin problems.
These are called medical grade facials, which concentrate on improving the skin’s health and condition.
Do you need a medical grade facial?
While a standard facial will rejuvenate the skin, medical grade facials target specific problem areas. They include resurfacing treatments and high-quality skin products to eradicate issues the client is concerned about and leave skin in a much healthier state.
Some conditions that can be addressed with these intensive facials include:
- Hyperpigmentation
- Melasma
- Acne
- Scarring
- Wrinkles
- Enlarged pores
- Rosacea
For these, even high-quality creams will not make a huge difference, as collagen production needs to be stimulated to solve these problems.
What types of treatments are medical grade facials?
The good news is that clients have a huge variety of medical grade treatments they can choose from these days.
- Chemical peels remove dead skin cells and stimulate new ones, helping to smooth fine lines and reduce scarring.
- Dermapen microneedling encourages the skin to produce more collagen, leaving fresh, clear skin.
- Dermaplaning removes top layers of skin for those suffering from acne scarring, fine lines and peach fuzz.
- IPL photorejuvenation uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to reduce signs of rosacea, age spots, thread veins, and acne.
- Laser lift and plump stimulates collagen production with an ND-YAG laser.
- Dermalux LED light therapy utilises wavelengths of light to smooth the skin, as it boosts collagen.
- Morpheus9 stimulates elastin and collagen, and tightens connective fibres to help contour the face and smooth lines.
- Milia removal removes milk spots.
- Thread vein removal uses lasers to get rid of spider veins on the face.
These are just a few minimally invasive facial treatments available these days. To choose which one is best for you, it is always a good idea to speak to your skin care clinic about your skin concerns and ask what they recommend.
What do medical grade facials involve?
The length, intensity and recovery of a medical grade facial will depend on the treatment you opt for. However, they typically last for between 30 and 60 minutes.
In order to prepare for the procedures, it is advisable to avoid facial waxing for at least a week beforehand.
It is also sensible to keep out of the sunlight as much as possible, and try to use a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to protect the skin.
Those using Retinol products might need to stop a few days before their treatment, as well as chemical exfoliants and acids. These products could interfere with those used in the facial, so it is wise to keep your skin as clean and clear as possible for the best results.
Even if you don’t arrive at the clinic with cleansed skin, this will be done to remove any oil, dirt or leftover make-up from the face, helping the chemicals and acids to interact with the skin more thoroughly.