Acne affects millions of adults and teenagers and can be difficult to manage when the body is undergoing hormonal changes or periods of severe stress. While acne can be treated with topical treatments and medication, the side effects can take their toll on an acne sufferer’s self-esteem and have a negative impact on the overall texture and quality of their skin.

Severe acne breakouts can lead to scarring and continued skin damage, but there are some facial treatments that can improve the skin from inside out; medical facials continue to be a popular skin rejuvenation treatment, drawing out unhealthy skin cells embedded deep within the skin’s surface and shrinking enlarged pores that accompany an acne breakout.

If you’ve been searching for an effective skin-clearing solution for managing acne, here’s what to expect with a medical facial:

How Medical Facials Work

Changing skin cell metabolism is essential for making drastic changes to the skin’s surface, and this can only be achieved when the skin is traumatized or injured in some way. This is why skin rejuvenation techniques that make use of lasers and heat energy are often valuable for reducing wrinkles, getting rid of age spots and reducing the appearance of acne scars.

Chemical peels are an alternative to these non-invasive skin treatments, as they simply sink into the skin and ‘burn’ away damaged tissues. These dead skin cells can then be pushed up through the pores for natural removal, and this process of ‘peeling’ helps the skin heal and clear itself of toxins. When acne breakouts have subsided and left behind broken skin tissues and dead cells, the medical facial can help eradicate this buildup in a short period of time. A series of medical facials with varying degrees of peel solution can lift the dead cells out from the skin tissues and help cleanse and detoxify the skin for long-term results.

Medical Facials vs. Spa Facials

Medical-grade facials are different from standard treatments found at the spa or aesthetic center; instead of relaxing and massaging the facial muscles, these facials involve the application of several chemicals and masques that might break down skin tissues, promote healthy collagen production and help prompt the toxin and dead skin removal process.

Medical facials are akin to a skin treatment rather than pampering session; still, many are available within a medical spa facility. Many anti aging and skincare specialists combine the medical facial with microdermabrasion to achieve even more dramatic results. Since microdermabrasion helps remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface and stimulates the production of collagen, the addition of a chemical peel and other medical-grade skin products can work the skin tissues from inside out, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and helping even out acne scars for the long-term.  

Other Acne Treatment Options

Medical facials offer several benefits for improving the texture and tone of the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and making the skin become healthier and more radiant. Other skin rejuvenation treatments for treating acne include:

• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments
• PhotoFacials
• Laser skin rejuvenation
• Surgical extraction – removal of larger comedones

Learn more about medical facials and chemical peels in our skin rejuvenation guide, or consult with an acne specialist in your area for recommendations on the best treatment plan for you.