Facials: Do you really need them?

If you think facials can turn back the clock to younger looking skin, think again. Dr Kiran Lohia busts some common myths about facials.

Dr Kiran Lohia | Updated: March 12, 2014 12:07 pm

When you see images of facials on TV, you tend to see pictures of a beautiful woman with perfect skin, lying with cucumbers on her eyes. This kind of imagery lends itself to the popular belief that facials are a mandatory part of skincare routine. It is further believed that facials are required to get the following benefits — proper cleansing, removal of pimples through extraction, a glow before an event, and younger looking skin. But do you really need that spa facial to get perfect skin? Dr Kiran Lohia, MD, specialising in dermatology explains why those claimed facial benefits are in fact not that beneficial.

Claim #1: Facials are needed for proper cleansing. FALSE

In reality, your daily cleansing routine of washing the face in the morning and evening provides more than enough cleaning for your skin. So, the facial itself won’t make your face any cleaner than it was before. But, you will feel cleaner because a facial makes your skin feel more refreshed.

Claim #2: Facials help in getting those blackheads extracted and removal of acne. FALSE

Unfortunately, pimples cannot be eradicated through facials. Only a trained dermatologist or physician with a proper therapeutic regimen can get rid of your acne. However, a good facialist can help get rid of those irritating black bumps on your face caused by clogged pores through the process of extraction. In extraction, the obstructing plug is gently removed from the follicle with the use of a sterilised instrument. The problem that often arises though is that many aestheticians do not know the difference between a whitehead and a blackhead and they try to extract all the pimples on the face without any discretion. In fact, all dermatologists will tell you that whiteheads and pimples should not be extracted. This is because when you extract them, you have a much higher risk of irritation and marks. Also, very aggressive extraction can push the pimple deeper in the skin, making them even harder to treat. So, it is important to be wary of this procedure and make sure your facial provider is only working on the blackheads in a gentle manner.

Claim #3: I need a facial before my wedding/party/event to get glow on my face. FALSE

Nearly everyone believes that getting a facial will make their skin look extra dewy for their event. In reality, while some people’s skin may initially look a little cleaner and fresher, many put their skin at risk for a lot of unrecognised side effects. First of all, too much steam can cause broken blood vessels, making your skin red and irritated. Then, because of the large number of different products put on your face, you have a risk of getting skin allergies. Thirdly, there is also a small risk of developing a skin infection if the extraction process gets a little too aggressive. Finally, there is high a risk of pimples because many of the moisturising creams used are known to cause zits. In fact, many dermatological studies have shown that Indian skin is particularly sensitive to these side effects.

To get a glow, it is best to go to your dermatologist who can give you treatments such as fruit acid peels and photo-facials that will give you guaranteed results with minimal risk. But if you really need to get a facial, try to get it at least a few weeks before your event so that any side effect can be properly treated in time.

Claim #4: Regular facials will make my skin look younger. FALSE

The reality is that no facial can turn back the clock. However, they can temporarily smooth out those wrinkles and make the skin look plumper through the use of heavy moisturising masks and creams. If well formulated, many of these therapies will boost the skin’s moisture content, making it temporarily look significantly younger. But, no one wants short-term results. So, to really get longer lasting, younger looking skin, it is best to go to your dermatologist who can offer a bevy of clinically proven treatments to get you that younger and tighter skin.

Dr Kiran’s recommendation

The truth is, facials aren’t an integral part of a skin routine at all. When done correctly, facials can be a nice add-on to your regular skin routine. They make you feel refreshed and relaxed and can make your skin temporarily look better than before. But when done incorrectly, those very facials can damage your skin. So keep in mind that facials are not miracles. And if you really must get a facial, ask your aesthetician to be careful when doing extractions. Do not get them more than once every 3-6 months so as to reduce your risk of complications.

For further tips you can contact the author by visiting her website.

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Published: March 1, 2013 8:26 am | Updated:March 12, 2014 12:07 pm

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