Does Hydrafacial Help With Acne? Benefits, Risks and Expert Tips

What is Hydrafacial?

Hydrafacial is a popular facial treatment that claims to cleanse, exfoliate, extract, and hydrate the skin. It uses a device with a handheld wand that delivers serums and antioxidants to the skin while simultaneously vacuuming out impurities.

The Hydrafacial treatment involves several steps:

1. Deep pore cleansing - The device uses vortex suction to remove dead skin cells, debris, and impurities from pores.
2. Chemical peel - Glycolic and salicylic acid are used to exfoliate and resurface the skin.
3. Extraction - The wand vacuum extracts any clogged pores.
4. Hydration - Hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, peptides, and other hydrating serums are infused into the skin.

The entire treatment takes about 30 minutes and is supposed to leave your skin looking clear, smooth, and radiant. Hydrafacials are performed at medical spas, aesthetician offices, and dermatology clinics.

What are the Benefits of Hydrafacial?

Hydrafacial has grown in popularity due to its many claimed benefits, including:

• Deep cleansing - The suction action helps to dislodge and remove dirt, oil, and debris that regular washing can’t get rid of.
• Exfoliation - The salicylic and glycolic acid provide a mild chemical peel to clear away dead skin and reveal fresher skin underneath.
• Extraction - The vacuum process can help clear congested pores and impurities.
• Hydration - The treatment infuses the skin with hydrating and nourishing serums.
• Brightening - Some of the antioxidants and ingredients are aimed at reducing dullness and brightening the complexion.
• Smoothing fine lines - Hydrafacial may help soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

These combined actions are said to leave the skin looking glowing and healthy. Many Hydrafacial devotees also rave that the treatment leaves no redness or irritation afterward.

Does Hydrafacial Help With Acne?

One of the most common reasons people get a Hydrafacial is to help combat acne. There are a few ways the Hydrafacial treatment may help clear and prevent acne breakouts:

Deep Cleansing of Pores

One of the main causes of acne is clogged pores, often filled with oil, dead skin, and bacteria. The suction component of the Hydrafacial reaches deep into pores to remove debris, impurities, and buildup. Thoroughly cleaning pores may help minimize the likelihood of future breakouts.

Exfoliation and Resurfacing

The glycolic and salicylic acids in the Hydrafacial treatment work as a mild chemical peel to remove dead skin cells on the surface. This exfoliation can help prevent pores from becoming clogged with debris and cells. Removing the topmost layer of skin may also allow acne medications and products to better penetrate pores.

Extraction

The Hydrafacial uses gentle suction to remove existing blackheads and clear congested pores. This can help eliminate some acne lesions and prevent new ones from forming.

Reducing Inflammation

Some of the antioxidants and peptides used during the Hydrafacial may help soothe inflammation. This could potentially decrease redness and swelling associated with acne.

Short Term Drying Effect

The exfoliating acids used during the facial can have a temporary drying effect on the skin. By removing excess oil production, this may help clear current breakouts and keep new ones from forming immediately after treatment.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

When considering Hydrafacial for acne, it’s also important to keep these potential downsides in mind:

• The treatment only provides temporary results. Maintaining clear skin requires an ongoing acne regimen.
• Some people experience flaking, dryness, or irritation afterward when the skin is resurfacing.
• Extracting existing pimples can potentially spread bacteria and cause more breakouts.
• Over-exfoliating or over-cleansing with Hydrafacial could make acne worse by triggering increased oil production.
• The treatment can be expensive, costing $150-$300 per session on average.

Who is a Good Candidate for Hydrafacial?

Hydrafacial will likely provide the most acne benefits for those with mild to moderate breakouts stemming from clogged pores and congestion. The deeply cleansing treatment can help keep pores clear.

Those with more inflammatory cystic acne may not see significant changes, as deeper lesions require medicines to reduce swelling and bacteria internally.

The ideal Hydrafacial candidate has resilient skin that won’t get overly dried out or irritated from the acid peels. Very sensitive skin may react poorly.

Tips for Maximizing Results

To get the most out of Hydrafacial for acne, consider these tips:

• Get treatments monthly while actively breaking out to keep pores clear.
• Avoid picking at skin before your treatment so extraction is safer and more effective.
• Use a gentle, non-drying cleanser for a few days afterward while skin adjusts.
• Follow with a vitamin C antioxidant serum to soothe and protect.
• Stay well hydrated before and after your Hydrafacial.
• Use a daily acne treatment medication like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, etc to tackle bacteria.
• Avoid having extractions done if you have open wounds or active infections.

Should Hydrafacial be Combined With Other Acne Treatments?

While some people may see an improvement in their acne from Hydrafacial treatments alone, most dermatologists recommend combining it with other acne-fighting methods for the best results.

Some effective acne treatments to use with Hydrafacial include:

• Prescription retinoids like tretinoin to speed up cell turnover and prevent clogged pores.
• Benzoyl peroxide to reduce acne bacteria on the skin’s surface.
• Salicylic acid cleansers and leave-on products to dissolve debris inside pores.
• Antibiotics like clindamycin, erythromycin, etc to combat bacterial overgrowth.
• Anti-inflammatory creams with niacinamide, zinc, or sulfur to soothe redness.
• Birth control pills that can help regulate hormonal fluctuations.

Using Hydrafacial as part of a complete anti-acne regimen provides both short term pore cleansing benefits and long term medication to prevent breakouts.

Should You Get a Hydrafacial for Acne?

Hydrafacial can be a beneficial addition to an acne treatment plan. The deep pore cleansing, gentle exfoliation, and extraction may help keep pores clear of congestion that can lead to breakouts.

However, Hydrafacial on its own is not enough to fully treat moderate to severe acne. Ongoing use of proven acne fighting ingredients is needed to tackle the bacteria, inflammation, and hormonal components of acne.

Talk to your dermatologist to see if Hydrafacial, when combined with other therapies, may be useful for clearing and preventing your acne. Be sure to take proper precautions to avoid irritation and sensitivity from the treatment.

With professional guidance, Hydrafacial can be a great way to start refreshing your skin and combating acne issues.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.