Is It Normal to Breakout After a Facial?
A facial stimulates many layers of skin. Some facials include extractions, and if all of the toxins can’t be extracted during your appointment, the toxins will continue their journey to the surface and cause breakouts after a facial.
You are more likely to have a post-facial breakout if your skin is sensitive, prone to acne, or if you have a few blemishes that are forming.
While you might expect your skin to be perfect and glowing after a skincare facial, that’s typically not the case. Think of it as the darkness before the dawn.
There are many types of treatments available for all different types of skin complications, and many of them make your skin feel or look worse momentarily afterward.
In this case, we are discussing the dreaded breakout after a facial.
Continue reading as we discuss what is and isn’t normal after a facial, how to deal with a post-facial breakout, and why so many people feel like their skin is worse two to three days after receiving a facial treatment.
Is It Normal to Breakout After a Facial?
I am here to tell you that a breakout after a facial is completely normal.
It doesn’t mean your skin will worsen, it doesn’t mean the esthetician didn’t deserve a tip, and it doesn’t mean you chose the wrong facial treatment.
Stop panicking; keep reading.
What Is Not Normal After a Facial?
While redness is common, extreme redness is not. You also should not experience extreme sensitivity to touch, an extreme burning sensation, or heat coming off your skin.
Additionally, day two should be more comfortable and less red than day one.
Bleeding a little bit during the facial is also normal, but not after.
If you experience these negative symptoms, you need to call your esthetician, facialist or dermatologist right away.
How Long Does Skin Purge After a Facial?
Purge is a scary word, but when talking about a facial, it’s your cells regenerating and releasing the toxins, shedding dead skin cells, and revealing fresh new skin.
Purge pimples usually go away faster than regular pimples but are also likely to reappear for up to six weeks after a facial.
For most people, the worst of it happens within just a couple of days of the facial and then clears up.
Why Does Skin Breakout After a Facial?
A facial stimulates many layers of skin. Some facials include extractions, and if all of the toxins can’t be extracted during your appointment, the toxins will continue their journey to the surface and cause breakouts after a facial.
You are more likely to have a post-facial breakout if you have acne-prone skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, or if you have a few blemishes that are forming.
A few other temporary issues you might encounter include:
- Redness
- Flaky skin
- Dryness
- Irritation
Should I Wash My Face the Night After a Facial?
If you want to wash all of your money and progress down the sink, sure.
For most people, the answer to this question is NO.
The magic of a facial is still working for about twelve hours after a facial. If you can resist, don’t wash your face until the next day.
Even then, it’s best to use a very mild soap or cleanser and to wash your face gently.
What Else Should I Avoid After a Facial?
To allow your skin to continue healing, there are a few things you should avoid for twenty-four hours, at least after receiving a facial.
You should NOT:
- Spend time in the sun. If you can’t avoid it, be sure to use gentle sunscreen and a hat and limit your time in the UV light.
- Wear makeup. Your pores are clean and vulnerable after a facial. Applying makeup can lead to clogged pores, introduce bacteria, and lead to more breakouts.
- Sweat, if you can avoid it. This could also clog your pores, irritate your skin, and cause more redness.
- Pick at your face. You’ll be tempted to pop a quick pimple or squeeze a whitehead during the purge phase, but don’t. This can lead to more breakouts and possible scarring.
How Can I Protect My Skin After a Facial?
Now that we have discussed what can harm your skin after a facial let’s talk about what you can do afterward to protect your skin.
You SHOULD:
- Stay hydrated. Water helps to maintain elasticity in your skin. Good hydration continues to aid your body in flushing out the toxins, resulting in glowing skin.
- Clean your makeup tools, brushes, and bedding. Now that your skin is pure and clean, your products should be too. Why would you add the same old bacteria directly onto your face right after purifying it?
- Moisturize your skin. Many facial treatments are very drying. Even if you tend to have oily skin, a moisturizer will act as a barrier against other bacteria touching your fresh and delicate skin.
Conclusion
In the end, patience is key. As I said, there are tons of different types and methods of facials, and not everyone’s skin type will react the same.
For some, they’ll be glowing and red-carpet-ready the next day. For others, the purge phase will just be beginning.
Now that you know a breakout after a facial is common and extreme burning or redness is not, you can confidently make your next appointment.
Just remember not to make plans for a day or three afterward.
