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.
A short checklist for the provider's side
When you sit down for a skin consultation, expect the licensed provider to work through a quiet checklist. Skin type and tone. Current concerns. Health conditions, especially anything affecting the skin or healing. Medicines and supplements. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Recent sun or tanning. Past treatments and any reactions.
From that, they decide which treatments are reasonable to discuss, which to rule out, and which to leave for later. You can ask to hear their reasoning. If something on the list does not apply to you, say so. If something worries you, ask before agreeing to anything.
The week before a skin consultation
A consultation on its own usually involves no treatment, though some providers can treat at the same visit if you both agree. If that is possible, a few things are worth asking about ahead of time:
- whether to pause strong exfoliants or vitamin A creams beforehand
- whether to avoid tanning, sunburn and self-tanner
- whether to skip waxing or threading on the area
- whether to arrive without makeup
Ask the provider or their office rather than guessing. Never stop a prescribed medicine without checking with whoever prescribed it.
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 is microneedling?
Microneedling uses a handheld device with very fine needles to make tiny punctures in the outer layer of the skin. A numbing cream is often applied first, and some providers pair it with a topical product. Who may perform it depends on state rules. A licensed provider decides whether it is suitable for you.
What are light-based skin treatments?
They are treatments that use a device to deliver light to the skin, such as intense pulsed light or LED panels. Settings and devices differ, and some are less suitable for deeper skin tones or recently tanned skin. A licensed provider looks at your skin and history before suggesting one.
Tell a provider in Lubbock what you would like to ask. You decide what happens after you talk.
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