Facial cleansing with all the care we deserve

It is the most important cosmetic treatment in which the excess sebum is removed and the black spots are removed, leaving the skin smooth and clean.

At Aboutskin facial cleansing is a group affair and “simple cleansing” becomes a medical practice where necessary. Mechanical opening with a special tool or the use of a very fine needle opens the acne lesions as well as medical peels on the same day, confirming that the composition of dermatology and aesthetics can bring new innovative techniques with excellent results.

There is no deep or shallow cleaning. The procedure is to remove only the excess sebum from the correct depth of the sebaceous glands without leaving any sebum remnants.

Our team in collaboration with companies with international recognition that are pioneers in the development of cosmetology with innovative protocols has created special cleansers for all skin types and problems they face.

The basic stages of face cleansing are:

• Make-up remover
• Peeling
• Steam (when not contraindicated)
• Sebum Extraction
• Apply antibacterial cream
• High frequency (disinfects the skin and closes open pores)
• Mask application
• Moisturizing Cream and / or sunscreen

Facial cleansing is a treatment that is done all year round. Depending on the season, we use the active ingredients that will give the best result without reducing our patients’ social activities.

There is no standard number. We have patients who are satisfied with one cleaning per year or others who for a period of time need to do continuous cleanings. Most of our patients have their own personalized program that is tailored to their needs. They may need to do two cleanings one year and neither the next.

It depends:

If you are already on medication or cosmetics you will be given instructions to discontinue or enhance some products you are already using.

If you are going to do a face cleansing at Aboutskin Dermatology Clinic for the first time, the dermatologist Karampoiki Vassiliki, after receiving the medical history, will assess whether it can be done immediately or after a preparation relevant to th with the needs of your skin.

The general instructions are that for two days we avoid makeup, intense sports activity and sun exposure.

Special instructions are given depending on the skin type and the individualized program that each patient follows.

Many times acne patients have this fear, because in the past they had cleansed and immediately after their acne flared up and they think it was an infection. Acne is not a pollutant that needs to be removed. This is a disease of the sebaceous glands, so the dermatologist knows when to include a cleansing in the program that the patient will follow.

There are, of course, cases of contamination when sterilization rules are not followed. The tools are sterilized in an oven and during the cleaning process the specialist always wears gloves, and uses tissues or absorbent paper which is renewed very often during the treatment.

Although facial cleansing is an invasive treatment, it is not “surgical” so there is a chance that it will leave scars.

Removal is easy and is most likely to create a hyperemia due to the pressure exerted on the skin, which will have disappeared no later than the next day.

Of course it also depends on the skin type of each patient. A skin without particular sensitivity and without acne will show minimal irritation compared to a skin that has acne and is probably on medication.

The elasticity of the skin pores is reduced by the frequent pressure we put on our skin, as a result of which the pores become larger and more visible. When a non-specialist pushes half-open pores, a quantity of sebum comes up and the rest is pushed down into the pores, causing them to clog from the middle and bottom. When the cleaning is done by the specialist, the sebum empties completely and the pores in one hour are closed normally.

Sebum helps in the function of the protective barrier of the skin. That is why we always remove only the excess sebum without “drying” the skin, so that the skin’s defense is not activated and it produces new sebum to protect itself.

Have you thought about why you are in pain? Because sebum does not come out easily. At Aboutskin we have several times refused to have a face cleansing when the skin is not “ready”. We recommend a specialized product at home to “raise” the sebum higher so that it can be removed easily and quickly. In this way we reduce the feeling of pain and make the treatment more effective.

However, the truth is that it is not the most enjoyable process. It is natural for the pressure exerted on the skin to cause some discomfort without reaching an excessive degree. Of course, the sensitivity of the skin and the mood we have that day plays a role.

The use of steam is not necessary and in some cases is not allowed.

In modern facial cleansing the duration of the steam is not longer than 5 to 10 minutes.

The evolution of modern cosmetics with active substances that are released into the skin without irritating it, help us to apply the cleansing without the use of steam, when it is deemed necessary, either for reasons of skin sensitivity or psychological.

Finally, it is very important to choose a good Vapeur (steam device) that helps to produce steam at an ideal distance from the face so that it does not bother us.

However, after the pandemic started, the use of steam in the cleaning stopped!

If so, the reasons are simple:

• The cosmetics you use are not suitable for you so the skin pores become very easily clogged or
• You may not be meticulous with the necessary daily cleansing of the skin to remove impurities that cause dark spots.

If none of the above applies again, a visit to a dermatologist is necessary to regulate skin seborrhea.