Facial frequency depends on what you want to treat and either coincides with or stays ahead of cellular turnover. What is cellular turnover? It is the rate in which your cells naturally come to the surface, shedding old cells and replacing them with new cells that form in the epidermis. As we age, cellular turnover slows down. Younger skin turns over every 28 days while more mature skin can take 35 – 40 days. In addition to age, there are other natural skin functions that can cause a more rapid or slower shedding, each skin is unique.
Here are the general guidelines for Facial frequency but of course, we defer to your Esthetician for guidance:
Acne – once every 2 weeks until clear then once every 3 to 4 weeks for maintenance. Acne is caused by a build up of dead skin cells within the pore from overactive cellular turnover. This causes bacteria to be trapped leading to non-inflamed and inflamed acne. The skins natural turnover rate simply can’t keep up which is why you need to come in every 2 weeks to safely assist your skin with clearing the excessive build up.
Pigmentation – once every 2-3 weeks until faded then once every 3 to 4 weeks for maintenance. Pigmentation can be caused by the environment, genetics, hormonal changes and even using the wrong skincare products. The best way to safely treat pigmentation is with professional chemical peels and/or devices, depending on your Fitzpatrick, the condition of your skin and the cause of the pigmentation. If you are treating pigmentation, it is required to wear SPF.
Anti-aging - once every 3 weeks to stay ahead of cellular turnover. As mentioned above, cellular turnover slows down as we age therefore you have to stay ahead of your natural cycle to combat the common signs of aging such as loss of firmness, cross-hatch lines (crepey skin), fine lines, wrinkles and loss of volume. Combining peels with devices like galvanic and microcurrent will help stave off the telltale signs.
Maintenance – once every 4 weeks or as recommended by your Esthetician.
The Bottom Line: Ask your Esthetician for their recommendation. Don’t rely on unlicensed professionals for guidance, you could damage your skin further.
These are the most common skin concerns that we hear, but please drop a comment below if you would like guidance for your unique skin, we would love to help!