Facials Don’t Treat Wrinkles
Last week one of my patients complained that she gets facials every month for her wrinkles, but that she still has prominent wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. “What,” she asked, “is she doing wrong?”
Facials are the third most popular treatment in spas after nails and massage. They come in many flavors like: mineral masks, steam treatments, microdermabrasions, LED light treatments, blu-light, and even oxygen facials.
Facials can be beneficial; they extract clogged pores, exfoliate dull, scaly skin, and give you a deep, invigorating cleansing, leaving your face smooth and silky. But facials cannot treat wrinkles, broken blood vessles, or brown spots.
Facials are done by aestheticians who are not licensed to practice medicine. Aestheticians cannot administer treatments that penetrate the skin or have biologic effects (by definition, this would be considered medicine and must be administered by a licensed practitioner such as a physician or registered nurse). Deeper problems such as wrinkles require invasive treatments which cross the line from cosmetics to medicine.
Facial massages or electrostimulations, which are supposed to tone your skin, don’t. Toning or building muscle requires intense and repeated activity. Just like building biceps, firming musles on your face would require working out. The problem is that wrinkles on your face are caused by contracting muscles — crow’s feet are caused by contracting muscles around your eyes; frown lines are caused by furrowing your brow; lip lines are caused by contracting the muscles around your mouth. Any treatment then that firms facial muscles would only make wrinkles worse.
Other treatments such as oxygen facials and mineral treatments have no evidence to support them, (unless you count “Madonna said so” as evidence). Save your money and have your daughter apply a mud mask the next time you go to the beach.
Photo: Arkansas Shutterbug (flickr)
Great post as always!
I really appreciate for providing useful information Thanks a lot.
After the most recent article in the NYTs on the sand at beaches being contaminated with bacteria, I think I’ll skip the mud mask
I am a licensed aesthetician and am very bothered by this post. I personally have never claimed that facials cured wrinkles, but the exfoliation received in most facials does help to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Also a licensed aesthetician can, in some states, administer medical treatments under the guidance of any MD. I personally did for a year and then returned to a spa setting. As for your client that receives facials all the time and is not seeing any difference, what is her home care regime? You can’t go to the dentist every month and get your teeth cleaned and then not brush your teeth at home or you can, just don’t be surprised when your teeth still fall out.
here he is : jean-paul ney
Great article, Dr. Benabio! I am Full Specialist, licensed by the State of Florida, Board of Cosmetology and work as an aesthetician in a dermatology practice. I only perform facials on patients that have congested skin or are in need of an exfoliating cleanse. I do administer a variety of peels (provider approved) depending on the correction needed by the patient. The patient must also be compliant and on a skin care regimen for a minimum of one month before any chemical peel is administered. They MUST be using a physical block daily. WE as aestheticians need to educate our patients. Skin Care should be “dentalized”…one should visit the dentist 2-3 times a year and one should see their dermatologist at least once a year or more if not practicing daily skin protection or have UV damage. Facials for the sake of a facial is truly a waste of money for the patient.
I donot ‘completely’ agree with this; as body massages help blood circulation, facials enhance facial blood circulation. Though face masks do help momentarily, facials can be considered as a little investment for a healthier and glowing facial skin.