What skin treatments include
Skin treatments is a broad label. At most med spas it covers four kinds of service: facials, chemical peels, microneedling, and light-based skin treatments. Each one works on the skin's surface or just below it, and each comes in many versions.
A facial usually means cleansing, exfoliation, a mask and sometimes extraction. A chemical peel is a solution applied to the skin for a set time, in strengths that run from light to deeper. Microneedling uses a device with very fine needles to make tiny punctures in the outer layer. Light-based treatments use devices that send light energy into the skin.
Which of these, if any, suits you is a decision for a licensed provider at a consultation.
Who does the treatment, and under what rules
Depending on the treatment and on Arizona rules, skin treatments may be done by an esthetician, a nurse, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner or a physician. Rules on who may do deeper peels, microneedling or light-based treatments differ from state to state, and some require a supervising physician.
It is reasonable to ask who will do your treatment, what license they hold, and who oversees them. You can also ask how they decide if a treatment is suitable for your skin, and what happens if you have a reaction afterward. A licensed provider should be able to answer all of these plainly.
Write it down before you go
Consultations can move quickly, and it is easy to forget a question once you are in the chair. Writing a few notes beforehand helps.
Start with what you want to ask about: a spot, a texture, a tone, a treatment you read about. Then add your health basics: conditions, medicines, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Finish with your questions, such as how many visits people usually have and what aftercare involves.
When you send a consultation request on this site, a short version of the first part is enough. Keep the rest for the consultation itself.
Questions about skin treatments
What is the difference between a facial and a chemical peel?
A facial is a hands-on service built around cleansing, exfoliation and masks. A chemical peel is a solution applied to the skin for a set time, in strengths that range from light to deeper. Peels usually come with more specific aftercare. A provider can explain which, if either, suits your skin.
How many visits do skin treatments take?
It depends on the treatment, your skin and what you want to ask about. Some people have a single facial. Peels, microneedling and light-based treatments are often planned as a series. A licensed provider can tell you what is typical for a given treatment, without promising a set number.
Should I avoid the sun before a skin treatment?
Many providers ask you to avoid tanning, sunburn and self-tanner before peels and light-based treatments, since recent sun can change what they are willing to do. Ask the office for its own instructions before your visit, and mention any recent sun at the consultation.
One form, one local provider, and your questions answered before any decision.
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