There are myriad beauty treatments for skin, from simple hydration and moisturizing, to complicated and expensive collagen injections and facelifts. Somewhere in between there are common spa and in-home treatments used by millions of women with results they covet. Knowing the basics about some of the more popular treatments used to care for skin can help you decide which ones are right for you.
Dermabrasion
Similar to exfoliation, which gently scrubs dirt, oil and dead skin cells off your face, dermabrasion is a more intense, deeper scraping of the skin, usually done by a doctor to lessen the appearance of scars, freckles, wrinkles, sun damage or dark spots.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), dermabrasion scrapes away the outermost layer of skin, going only as deep as the surgeon deems safe. The process is done with a rough wire brush, motorized burr with diamond particles or a laser.
Those who face the most amount of risk from a dermabrasion are Blacks, Asians or other darkly-complected persons, people who develop skin reactions or allergies, those who get repeated cold sores and fever blisters and those with active acne, according to the ASPS. The treatment is painful enough for most people that it requires anesthesia, and in some cases, pain medication after. The healing process may take several months to complete.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are less intense and painful than dermabrasion and can be done in minutes. They do not remove as much skin, or as deep a layer as dermabrasion. They involve placing a chemical on the skin, waiting 10 minutes or more, then rinsing and peeling away the dead skin that the chemical removes.
The most common chemicals for professional facial peels are Phenol, trichloroacetic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids, according to the ASPS. Depending on the chemical used, the doctor may prescribe an at-home regimen of creams or washes for afterward. Peels require no anesthesia and may require a second treatment to complete an even complexion.
Consumers can purchase at-home chemical peels or make their own, natural peels from acids found in common foods, like lemons and tomatoes.
Facial Masks
A facial mask is a topical application of creamed items like mud, clay, vegetables or fats. The purposes vary, but expected benefits include drawing dirt, oils, salt and other contaminants from the skin and pores, as well as tightening skin, moisturizing, and smoothing lines, scars and wrinkles.
Masks are kept on the skin anywhere from minutes to hours to overnight, depending on the application and desired outcome. They are removed by rinsing with lukewarm water, by hand or with a damp, soft cloth.
Masks are available at many spas and salons, in commercial preparations in stores, or can be made using items commonly found at home, such as yogurt, mayonnaise, egg whites and avocado.
Acids and abrasives like lemon juice and oatmeal are often added to homemade masks to add a peel or exfoliating component to the mask.
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