Professional treatments work hand-in-hand with any at-home skincare routine to maximize the skin’s health and appearance. There are many safe and proven-effective options that can help improve the full spectrum of skin concerns more significantly than skincare alone, and these in-office treatments can help keep the skin looking and feeling its best for years to come.

Common Skincare Procedure Myths

Many people have misconceptions about office-based treatments and procedures, especially before they consult a skincare professional.

Myth: Professional procedures are for problematic skin.

Fact: Many treatments help maintain healthy-, youthful-looking skin and prevent concerns such as visible signs of aging, clogged pores, rough texture, and dull or uneven skin tone.

Myth: People with sensitive skin are not candidates for professional treatments.

Fact: There are several treatments that are appropriate for sensitive skin. An experienced skincare professional knows how to select active ingredients and adjust energy settings to minimize inflammation and sensitivity while strengthening the skin barrier to maximize results.

Myth: Those with dry skin should avoid professional treatments.

Fact: In-office procedures can effectively remove dead cells and help restore the skin’s natural barrier. These treatments can also improve product absorption to maximize the benefits of hydrating ingredients and formulations used at home.

Myth: All in-office professional procedures involve heavy peeling of the skin.

Fact: Peeling is only a potential side effect after procedures that target the skin at the cellular level—and many professional treatments don’t cause any peeling at all. When peeling occurs, this is a means to achieving the desired results and improve the condition of the skin.

Procedure-Specific Skincare Treatment Myths

Myth: Chemical peels cause significant discomfort.

Fact: Superficial chemical peels are usually well-tolerated with the help of a handheld fan.

Are chemical peels safe? Superficial peels pose a low risk of adverse side effects. An experienced skincare professional (whether an aesthetician, physician, or physician extender) understands the nuances associated with performing chemical peels on different skin types and various skin tones.

Are chemical peels worth it? When performed as a series that involves a specific number of treatments or on an ongoing basis, even the lightest chemical peels help enhance cellular turnover to keep fresh, healthy cells on the skin’s surface with little to no downtime.

Myth: Fillers require frequent office visits.

Fact: The level of maintenance for maintaining results is based on the type of filler used, where it’s placed, and the patient’s activity level. In general, the time between treatments can range from 6-8 months to up to two years.

Are fillers safe? Fillers undergo extensive testing and require F.D.A. approval before doctors are able to offer them to patients.

Are fillers worth it? Fillers have an extremely high satisfaction rate, but the key is to find an experienced injector who can show you before-and-after photos of their work. This is a good way to ensure their results align with your desired outcome.

Myth: Your face will look frozen after treatment with neurotoxins such as Botox®, Dysport®, Xeomin®, or Jeuveau®.

Fact: Injection specialists strive to provide natural-looking rejuvenating results. The goal of neurotoxin injections is to enhance your features, not alter them.

Are neurotoxins safe? These injectables have been subjected to extensive testing before receiving F.D.A. approval, and an experienced injector knows where to precisely place neurotoxins to minimize the movement of the specific muscles that contribute to expression-related wrinkles.

Are neurotoxins worth it? Although it can take approximately one week to see full neurotoxin results, the smoothing of dynamic wrinkles lasts for three to four months or more.

Myth: Laser treatments are only suitable for lighter skin tones.

Fact: Advances in technology have made it possible to adjust the intensity of the energies used, which allows the entire spectrum of skin tones to enjoy the benefits of laser resurfacing.

Myth: Laser treatments take a long time to perform.

Fact: Depending on the specific modality and the size of the treatment area, the time required for laser treatments can range from a few minutes to an hour.

Myth: All laser treatments destroy the top layer of the skin.

Fact: Non-ablative lasers leave the top layer of skin intact and instead focus their energy on the lower layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production.

Myth: Only people with the fairest complexions can have laser treatments.

Fact: Advances in laser technology have given skincare professionals the ability to adjust the intensity of the wavelengths of light used, making laser resurfacing safe for all skin tones.

Is laser resurfacing safe? These treatments are both safe and effective when performed by properly trained skincare professionals. For those with melanin-rich skin, it’s best to find a provider with experience treating skin tones similar to yours for optimal outcomes and minimal risk of side effects.

Is laser resurfacing worth it? Whether you opt for one or two more intense treatments (and more downtime) or several lighter treatments (and less downtime), laser resurfacing has the capability to improve decades of skin damage in a relatively short period of time.

Tips For Ensuring Professional Treatment Safety

It’s always important to do your homework if you’re contemplating a professional procedure, and understanding the facts is a great first step. However, many first-time patients, or those looking for a new provider, can have questions about procedure safety and the competence of a skincare professional. Here are a few tips for when you’re still in the exploratory stage.

• A word-of-mouth referral from a family member or friend is ideal, but reading reviews on Google or Yelp can be helpful.
• Be sure to book a consultation with the provider you are considering before committing. If you are pressured to schedule any treatment or procedure before you visit the clinic in-person, this should be a red flag.
• A proper consultation and skin analysis is essential before any professional treatment or procedure. Your consultation should include questions from the provider about why you’re seeking treatment, your current skincare routine, lifestyle, and history of sun exposure, as well as your experience and satisfaction with past professional treatments.
• The provider should offer a customized treatment plan that includes any appropriate at-home skincare that will help achieve optimal results.
• If you believe the professional is taking a cookie-cutter approach that does not take your goals, unique skin needs, or expectations into consideration, it’s best to keep looking.
• Don’t be swayed by below-market pricing. If the cost of a professional treatment sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

To find a provider who meets the highest standards of experience and expertise necessary to become a SkinCeuticals skincare professional, use our online Routine Finder, visit one of our SkinCeuticals SkinLab locations, or schedule an appointment with a SkinCeuticals Skincare Professional for a one-on-one consultation.

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