What skin treatments include
Skin treatments is a broad label. At most med spas it covers four kinds of service: facials, chemical peels, microneedling, and light-based skin treatments. Each one works on the skin's surface or just below it, and each comes in many versions.
A facial usually means cleansing, exfoliation, a mask and sometimes extraction. A chemical peel is a solution applied to the skin for a set time, in strengths that run from light to deeper. Microneedling uses a device with very fine needles to make tiny punctures in the outer layer. Light-based treatments use devices that send light energy into the skin.
Which of these, if any, suits you is a decision for a licensed provider at a consultation.
What a provider looks at first
Before suggesting any skin treatment, a licensed provider usually asks about a handful of things:
- your skin type and how it tends to react to products
- your health history, including conditions such as eczema, rosacea or cold sores
- medicines you take, including acne medicine by mouth and vitamin A creams
- whether you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding
- recent sun exposure, tanning or self-tanner
- past treatments and how your skin handled them
These answers shape which treatments are an option and at what strength. If a provider skips these questions, it is fair to ask why.
Getting ready for a skin consultation
A little preparation makes a skin consultation more useful. Before you go:
- Write down what you want to ask about, in your own words.
- List your medicines, creams and supplements, with doses if you know them.
- Note any past peels, facials, microneedling or light treatments, and roughly when.
- Write down any reactions you have had to products or treatments.
- Check your calendar for events or sunny trips in the weeks ahead.
Ask the provider whether to come with a bare face or whether makeup is fine. Bring your list and your questions, and keep a pen handy for the answers.
Questions about skin treatments
What is the difference between a facial and a chemical peel?
A facial is a hands-on service built around cleansing, exfoliation and masks. A chemical peel is a solution applied to the skin for a set time, in strengths that range from light to deeper. Peels usually come with more specific aftercare. A provider can explain which, if either, suits your skin.
What if my skin reacts after a treatment?
Follow the aftercare instructions and contact the provider who treated you. They can tell you what is expected and what is not. For pain, signs of infection, blistering or anything that worries you, see a doctor or dermatologist. This site is not a clinic and cannot give medical advice.
Should I avoid the sun before a skin treatment?
Many providers ask you to avoid tanning, sunburn and self-tanner before peels and light-based treatments, since recent sun can change what they are willing to do. Ask the office for its own instructions before your visit, and mention any recent sun at the consultation.
Have a question about a med spa treatment? Send a short consultation request to a provider in or near Beverly Hills.
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