What Are the Best Facials for Acne?

50 million people in the United States suffer from acne, making it the top skin condition in the country. It's even more common in teens and young adults 85% of 12 to 24-year-olds suffer from this skin condition.

Acne can affect your confidence and take a toll on your outward appearance. As a result, you may feel like you can't participate in the activities you loved before your acne. For instance, you may be afraid to get a facial.

Luckily, the best facials for acne can actually help your condition. You just need to know how to choose the right type of facial for your specific acne needs. That's why we're bringing you this guide.

Want to know how to choose the right facial to help with your breakouts? In this guide, we help you do just that. Plus, stick around until the end to find out where to get a facial for acne in Springfield, MO.

What Type of Acne Do You Have?

Acne can manifest in various ways, each of which responds differently to facial treatments. The most common types of acne are:

• Whiteheads
• Blackheads
• Pustules
• Papules
• Cysts
• Nodules

Professionals typically divide these types into three categories of acne: comedonal, inflammatory, and nodulocystic. Learn more about each of these next.

Comedonal Acne

Comedonal acne occurs primarily due to clogged pores, though hormones may also play a role. Clogged pores and hormones are common causes of all types of acne.

You know you have this type of acne if you are prone to whiteheads and blackheads. Additionally, comedonal acne does not typically leave scars.

Inflammatory Acne

A bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes causes inflammatory acne, which includes pustules and papules. When these bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells accumulate in your pores, the pore can get infected, causing pimples.

Sometimes, pustules may have a hormonal cause. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are the usual culprits. This is why people who menstruate may have a higher risk of developing inflammatory acne.

Nodulocystic Acne

Nodulocystic acne comes about from a variety of factors, including overactivity of the hormone androgen. Some studies also show that this type of acne is genetic since it runs in families.

As its name suggests, nodulocystic acne features nodules and cysts. Nodules are hard, pink or red bumps that originate deep in the skin. Cysts are similar but are softer since they contain pus.

What Are the Benefits of Facials for Acne?

Facials are an excellent supplementary acne treatment. They should not replace other treatments your healthcare provider recommends. But they are a smart addition to any acne-fighting routine.

Here's why.

Unclog Pores

Many facials have decongesting benefits. That means they clear away the dirt, oil, and bacteria trapped deep inside your pores.

Without clogged pores, your skin will start to clear up after a facial. Practicing good skin care with a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and additional facials may help you reduce your breakouts.

Shrink Pores

When facials remove the gunk from your pores, they can shrink back to their average size. That makes it more difficult for new dirt, oil, and bacteria to become trapped.

This is another reason why facials are an excellent supplement to acne treatments. Plus, smaller pores mean smoother, more even skin.

Reduce Oil Production

Facials help replenish lost moisture in the skin. This can help reduce your natural production of oil, decreasing the risk of breakouts.

Moisturizing facials can also restore glow to dull skin. That way, your skin will look and feel healthier, younger, and smoother.

Even Out Discoloration

One of the biggest benefits of getting a facial is that it can help with uneven skin tone. Dark marks are common after acne, especially inflammatory acne. The right facial ingredients can help brighten these areas.

Look for ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, and salicylic acid in your facials. These ingredients can lighten healing acne marks.

Eliminate Acne Scars

Facials are not just good for post-acne dark marks. They can also help with scars from nodulocystic acne.

The best types of facials for acne scars are dermaplaning, microneedling, and chemical peels. These treatments exfoliate the top layer of skin, reducing the depth and discoloration of post-acne scarring.

Classic Facials and Acne

Classic facials are ideal for comedonal acne, but people with inflammatory or nodulocystic acne may want to avoid them.

Most classic facials begin with steaming, exfoliating, and massaging the skin. These treatments can help extract whiteheads and blackheads.

The next step in a classic facial is a mask. Be careful when choosing a mask, as some ingredients may exacerbate your acne. If you do choose to get a classic facial with acne, ask your aesthetician about acne-friendly masks.

How to Choose the Best Masks for Acne Prone Skin

When choosing the best masks for your skin, pay close attention to the ingredients. Ensure the mask is fragrance-free, oil-free, and safe for sensitive skin. Also, look out for the following acne-fighting ingredients.

Salicylic acid is an exfoliant. It helps remove dead skin cells, which can clog your pores and cause acne. Many masks contain salicylic acid to take advantage of its exfoliating abilities.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are commonly found in chemical peels. This ingredient may also come in masks. Like salicylic acid, it is an exfoliant, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties that are great for pustules and papules.

Azelaic acid is another ingredient that can unclog pores. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and prevents the buildup of keratin proteins inside pores.

Dermaplaning and Acne

Dermaplaning is a tricky beauty treatment when it comes to acne. That is because it can be both a help and a harm to acne-prone skin. The difference is when you get this type of facial done.

Most experts recommend getting dermaplaning to prevent new breakouts. It helps to unclog pores of dirt, makeup, and bacteria. This treatment may also help with acne scarring and discoloration.

However, you should never get dermaplaning done with an active breakout. During this treatment, a professional will drag a thin blade across your face. It can irritate the skin, especially in areas where you are breaking out.

Microneedling and Acne

Like dermaplaning, microneedling is an excellent way to treat acne scars and prevent new breakouts. However, it comes with some risks when used on skin experiencing active breakouts.

This is true of all three common acne categories. As the needles come in contact with the breakout, they can spread bacteria to other regions of the face. Microneedling also causes inflammation, which can worsen breakouts.

If you want to get microneedling for acne scarring, wait until your skin is clear. That way, you can reduce the risk of potential side effects and more acne scarring.

LED Facials and Acne

LED facials work well for comedonal and inflammatory acne. They are particularly beneficial for inflammatory acne. The LED light works as an anti-inflammatory agent for the skin.

This type of facial utilizes three types of light, each with a different goal. White light reduces uneven skin tone, blue light kills bacteria, and red light stimulates collagen production for younger, smoother-looking skin.

Red light LED facials also provide the benefit of reducing pore size. The smaller the pores, the more difficult it is for bacteria and gunk to build up. This can make your acne more manageable in the long run.

Chemical Peels and Acne

Chemical peels are not always the best solution for acne. Instead, most people get chemical peels to fade discoloration from acne marks. Peels exfoliate the top layer of skin, revealing smoother skin beneath.

However, choosing the right active ingredients for your chemical peel may make this type of facial more suited to treating acne. For example, chemical peels containing salicylic acid may help treat active breakouts.

Other ingredients to look for include AHAs like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and Jessner's Solution are specialty ingredients aestheticians can customize depending on your concerns.

Over time, chemical peels may also reduce the appearance of pores and decrease oil production. Dead skin and dirt will have a harder time building up in your pores, leading to a long-term reduction in breakouts.

Get the Best Facials for Acne in Springfield, MO

The best facials for acne are classic facials, dermaplaning, microneedling, LED facials, and chemical peels. Make sure to choose a treatment based on your unique skin concerns and the type of acne you are struggling with.

Are you searching for 'acne-friendly facials near me?' Rouge Beauty Bar can customize a facial treatment for your unique concerns. Book an appointment at Rouge Beauty Bar to get smoother, more beautiful skin.