HydraFacial is a trademarked treatment renowned for its multi-step approach to facial rejuvenation. Many Indian salons use a cheaper alternative and charge you the same for it.
It’s that time of the year when the unforgiving sun keeps us indoors. Despite that, many patients come complaining about sun tanning and seek to remedy that with certain types of facials.
So, let me elaborate on the three main facials that people speak about almost interchangeably when they shouldn’t — medical facial, salon facial, and HydraFacial.
The brand name that shot to popularity
HydraFacial is a trademarked treatment renowned for its multi-step approach to facial rejuvenation. It is fairly non-invasive and involves a hydration method using a patented device.HydraFacial isn’t a facial technique and should not be confused with one. Today, it has become very popular as you can see from your social media feeds. A lot of ads harp on the benefits of HydraFacial without actually informing the reader/end-user about its specifics.
While HydraFacials offer immediate hydration, they may not deliver the same results as medical facials, especially when it comes to addressing specific skin concerns. And if there’s anything that I have repeated throughout my 13 years of experience, it’s this — skincare is a routine, so be careful before you take the quickest way out.
Salon facials — the pampering process
Salon facials are skincare treatments offered in beauty salons, spas, or wellness centres. They are typically performed by aestheticians who specialise in skincare but may not have medical training. Such treatments often incorporate standard skincare procedures using commercially available products.
However, since they lack the medical know-how, equipment, and access to the same ingredients as dermatologists, they end up resorting to more readily available ingredients such as bleach (fruit or oxygen bleach), chemicals, and peels for an instant glow, which can be quite traumatic for your skin.Salon facials also use steam and involve lots of hand massage, which is not good for your skin. Hand massaging your face over time leads to faster skin sagging and could even alter your face structure.
While salon facials may offer some degree of customisation, they generally follow a set treatment with predetermined protocols. Aestheticians may recommend products and techniques based on the client’s skin type and concerns without having any clinical knowledge of the products and their consequences.
I’ve noticed another very popular pattern among clients – a lot of salons now offer HydraFacials, which, when it comes down to it, is just the name of the brand and not an actual technique. Salons may term it ‘HydraFacial’ but might be using a cheaper alternative instead of the patented machine, and in turn, charge you the full fee.
HydraFacial equipment is a highly expensive machine, and while the treatment has become a fad nowadays, it’s not the industry leader. Do your research before opting for a major process of any sort on your skin.
Medical facials — the way to go
Medical facials, also known as clinical facials, are skincare treatments administered under the supervision of a licensed medical professional such as a dermatologist or a trained aesthetician.
They are completely different from salon facials in that they only use pure oxygen and mesoporation, a non-invasive skin rejuvenation technique that involves the use of electrical pulses by which you can infuse the required vitamins and serums into your skin. These can include vitamin C serums, ascorbic acid, and kojic acid, which, in their safest forms, are ultimately responsible for skin lightening, hydration, anti-ageing, etc.
How does an ideal medical facial work?
A medical facial involves four main steps.
Cleansing: Your dermatologist or aesthetician will first thoroughly cleanse your skin to remove any makeup, dirt, and oil from the surface. Cleansing ensures that the skin is free from any barriers that could hinder the treatment’s effectiveness. Moreover, your aesthetician will be wearing gloves throughout and there’s almost zero hand-to-skin contact.
Microdermabrasion: This is essentially exfoliation; it involves gently rotating diamond crystals using a machine on your skin to remove any dead skin.
Conductive gel application: The aesthetician will then apply a conductive gel containing active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and vitamins to your skin. This helps facilitate the transmission of electrical pulses and enhances the penetration of the active ingredients into the deeper layers of your skin.
Mesoporation: During this step, a handheld device emitting low-frequency electrical pulses is gently massaged over the skin. These pulses create temporary nanopores in the skin’s lipid barrier, allowing for better absorption of the active ingredients. The pulses also promote collagen production, which can help improve skin texture and firmness.Finally, depending on your skin type, the aesthetician will apply a face pack to soothe your skin, reduce any inflammation, and give your skin a hydrated and healthy glow.
These steps are present in HydraFacial as well. But if you want to opt for a similar facial, skip the salon — ask your dermatologist about medical facials instead. Only your doctor will know what sort of ingredients need to be infused into your skin based on factors such as age, skin type, smoking vs non-smoking habits, lifestyle, etc.
Medical facials take a scientific approach to skincare. Dermatologists use only medically approved products and offer targeted solutions for issues like acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles. Moreover, these techniques deliver noticeable and long-lasting improvements in skin texture, tone, and overall appearance.
In the realm of skincare, there are an array of treatments – just make sure you know the specifics of it all before getting something done.
"Disclaimer: This article is authored by Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj and was originally published on ThePrint.in as Dr Bhardwaj is a Columnist with them. It has been reproduced here for Pateint information only."
Commentaires