Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home / Beauty / Facials: Do you really need them?

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.

By: Dr Kiran Lohia   | | Updated: March 12, 2014 12:07 pm
Tags: Beauty myths  Blackheads  Dermatology  Glowing skin  Health Guard  Whiteheads  

facialDr KiranWhen 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. Also Read - 7 Skincare tips to look gorgeous this festive season

Claim #1: Facials are needed for proper cleansing. FALSE Also Read - Korean skincare routines for radiant and flawless skin



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. Also Read - Curd face mask recipes for glowing, radiant skin

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. 

Also read more articles on skincare:

  • How to get flawless skin without dark spots and patches 
  • Beauty benefits of aloe vera gel 
  • Home remedies to get rid of unwanted facial hair 
  • 10 fruits and vegetables for glowing skin 
  • 10 reasons for dry skin 
  • Fruit face packs for flawless skin 
  • How to treat open pores 
  • 9 home-made face packs to remove tan 
  • Benefits of haldi for skin 
  • Saffron or kesar benefits for beautiful skin 

For more articles on skincare, check out our skincare section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

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

10 summer essentials in your handbag

10 summer essentials in your handbag

Eat healthy for your skin

Eat healthy for your skin

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • Coronavirus vaccine: This nasal spray can block the virus for upto 2 days
  • To vaccinate or not? Medical expert clears the air around Covid-19 vaccines
  • Recovered from Covid-19? Your immune system may fight coronavirus variants
  • Covid-19 variant detected in UK may be ‘more deadly than the older virus strain’
  • UK COVID Strain May Be More Infectious But There Is No Need To Panic: Experts

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Replace sugar with jaggery to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and age spots

Replace sugar with jaggery to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and age spots

5 must-have winter superfoods for glowing skin

5 must-have winter superfoods for glowing skin

Benefits of vitamin C serum: This powerful antioxidant can do a lot for your skin

Benefits of vitamin C serum: This powerful antioxidant can do a lot for your skin

Want to get clear glowing skin naturally? Eat potatoes and chillies

Want to get clear glowing skin naturally? Eat potatoes and chillies

7 Skincare tips to look gorgeous this festive season

7 Skincare tips to look gorgeous this festive season

Health News in Hindi

Turmeric Beauty Benefits: वरुण धवन के हल्दी समारोह की तस्वीरें हैं खास,केवल रिवाज भर नहीं है शादी में हल्दी लगाना, त्वचा के लिए फायदेमंद है हल्दी का लेप

करीन कपूर प्रेग्नेंसी में मेंटली रिलैक्स रहने के लिए करती हैं योग, तस्वीरों और वीडियोज में योग पोज में फ्लॉन्ट किया बेबी बम्प

Weight Loss Diet: वेट लॉस के लिए एक्सपर्ट्स मानते हैं लो-फैट डायट को बेस्ट, जानें इस डायट के अन्य फायदे

बर्मिंघम यूनिवर्सिटी के शोधकर्ता बना रहे हैं एक ऐसा ‘नेजल स्प्रे’ जो 2 दिनों तक कोरोनावायरस को शरीर में जाने से रोकेगा

लालू प्रसाद यादव की तबीयत में सुधार नहीं, इस गंभीर संक्रमण से हैं ग्रस्त, दिल्ली के एम्स में चल रहा है इलाज

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Thyroid: Do you constantly feel exhausted? It could be a sign of Hypothyroidism
  • Coronavirus vaccine: This nasal spray can block the virus for upto 2 days
  • To vaccinate or not? Medical expert clears the air around Covid-19 vaccines
  • Egg freezing on rise in India: Is it the best choice to make? Know the pros and cons
  • Recovered from Covid-19? Your immune system may fight coronavirus variants

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.