THE LONG-TERM SKIN BENEFITS OF TEEN FACIALS

Skin problems are almost a rite of passage for teens. Stress, busy school lives, peer pressures, sports, and social obligations shove proper skin care towards the bottom of the list of things you need to do every single day. Then, there are hormonal changes, clogged pores from sweating, and even seasonal fun. Whew! It can really do a number on your complexion.

The good news? Regular teen facials can help. Here’s how.

IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES

You probably blame your acne on age or your dry skin on the weather, right? What if there’s something else going on? An aesthetician can really analyze your skin to figure out if you have a specific skin condition (like acne) or some other influencing factor at play. It may be surprising, but it’s possible to have more than one issue at a time, too. Your aesthetician can help you narrow down what‘s going on in order to identify the best potential treatment. Then, they‘ll tailor your facial to your needs or even refer you out to a dermatologist for a more thorough consultation.

PREVENTING ACNE SCARRING

Don’t even pretend you don‘t pop your own zits. Hey, look, we all know it’s bad, and we all do it once in a blue moon. The problem? Every single time you poke, prod, and squeeze a pimple, you cause damage to the skin. Regular teen facials will extract clogged pores, eliminating the need to pop and reducing the possibility of harder-to-treat scarring later in life. They’re a great preventative technique

TREATING EXISTING ACNE SCARS

Already have acne scars? Don’t panic. Your aesthetician can help you treat your acne while also reducing the appearance of mild scarring. Occasional chemical peels containing salicylic acid are also beneficial for clearing up skin.

PORE-CLEARING

Regular facials deeply cleanse your pores, unlike over-the-counter products used at home. Aestheticians also use specialized machines to open the pores, removing more dirt and debris. Then, they cleanse and treat the skin with serums or topicals that soothe irritation and gently close the pores again. That’s just not something you can safely do on your own.

EXFOLIATION

Exfoliation in a spa environment is a lot different from the gentle exfoliating scrubs and cleansers you can buy OTC. Many of these products help, but still leave dead skin cells behind on the surface of your skin. This leads to dry skin and creates tiny pockets where oil and bacteria build up, leading to irritation and redness.

In the spa, the exfoliation process is much different. Your aesthetician will use a stronger chemical peel to gently scrub the surface of your skin, removing all dead skin cells to reveal newer, younger skin cells.

EYE BAGS & CIRCLES

You may be a teen, but even you can still experience under-eye bags and circles, especially if you have severe allergies or ridiculously tiring social and study schedules. The skin in this area is extremely sensitive and delicate, which is exactly why treatment is best left to the pros (and yes, that means facials!) Oh, and those cucumber treatments you see on TV? You’ll see them used in the spa from time to time, too. It turns out that cucumber is packed with vitamin K, which is super for rehydrating the skin.

ANTI-AGING BENEFITS

Okay, maybe you don’t to think about aging just yet. The world is changing, though, and we’re all bombarded by the same free radicals, toxins, and pollutants in the air. Massages will help your skin more easily regenerate skin cells, boosting collagen development to keep your skin young, youthful and smooth. If you‘re close to adulthood, it may even slow down the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles!

DIY TEEN FACIALS DON’T CUT IT

You can buy all the do-it-yourself products on the market — and have tons of fun bonding time together — yet still never get the results you want with DIY products. The reality is that nothing compares to the deeper, concentrated, pore-specific work your aesthetician provides in a spa setting. There’s also no possible way to get the bacteria-killing benefits of laser and light treatments at home.

IMPROVED CONFIDENCE

Let’s face it. Teens with major acne outbreaks and related skin conditions tend to feel embarrassed and shy about their skin. Sometimes their breakouts are downright painful, too. If you can relate, teen facials might help you alleviate these indirect issues so you can feel more comfortable in your own body.

SKINCARE EDUCATION

Hey, look — we know you have a busy life. You try to remember to wash your face morning and night, but sometimes it’s easy to overlook it until someone really drives the point home. Your medical provider can really help you get into proper at-home skin care, whether that includes cleansing, moisturizing, using proper SPF, or even spot treating to prevent acne breakouts. They can also help you decide which at-home products will be most effective, saving you time and money.

HOLISTIC BENEFITS

Skin treatments aside, teen facials are essentially just mini-massages. Massaging the skin has a long list of incredible benefits independent of the formula used in the process. Gentle, soothing touch reduces stress (resulting in better performance in school), helps you develop a stronger immune system, and improves overall mood.

WHAT AGE SHOULD TEENAGERS START GETTING FACIALS?

The true answer to this question depends on the teenager. It’s hard to predict when someone will hit puberty and develop skin issues — or even if they’ll develop skin issues at all! If you’re considering facials yourself, know that as young as 12 or 13 is a good starting point.

You don’t need to have a major skin condition in order to benefit from facials, either. Having gentle facials is a great way to get into the habit of attentive skin care, both at home and in a professional setting. The earlier you develop good skin care habits, the better.

How often you get a facial is up to your parents, your individual skin needs, and your budget. Make sure you follow your aestheticians instructions, including directions to use daily sunscreen to prevent sun damage. It may take a few sessions to see major results if your skin conditions are severe, but you’ll almost certainly see a difference! There’s nothing quite like the feeling of freshly-treated skin.