Facial Cleansing: Methods, Tips, and Contraindications

Everything You Need to Know About Facial Cleansing: Methods and Tips

Cleansing is a fundamental step in skincare, essential for all skin types. In your daily skincare routine, you use makeup removers and facial cleansers: micellar water, foams, gels, hydrophilic oils, and balms.

These products effectively remove surface impurities, but they do not cleanse the pores or help exfoliate dead skin cells. For this purpose, a special cosmetic procedure is performed—professional facial cleansing. Why is it necessary, how often is it performed, what cleansing methods exist, and who are they suitable for—you’ll find answers to all these questions in this article.

The Basics of Facial Cleansing: Understanding the Treatment

The skin is the body’s largest organ, where various biochemical processes and cell renewal occur constantly. The facial skin has a large number of sebaceous and sweat glands and is exposed to atmospheric pollutants, ultraviolet radiation, and other adverse environmental factors. As a result, pores become clogged and develop into open (blackheads) or closed comedones (whiteheads). Without proper cleansing, the skin becomes dull, takes on a grayish tint, has an oily sheen, and looks neglected.

What are the types of facial cleansing?

To remove impurities, cosmetologists use several methods:

• mechanical – cleansing clogged pores and blackheads using manual tools (loop, Uno spoon);
• non-invasive – applying scrubs and other cosmetic products to the face in the correct order;
• ultrasonic – removing impurities and dead skin cells using safe, high-frequency ultrasonic waves;
• vacuum – cleansing of impurities using the suction effect generated by a special cosmetic “vacuum cleaner” for pores;
• laser – deep exfoliation and skin renewal performed using a laser.

Each of these methods effectively achieves high-quality skin cleansing. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, a cosmetologist may combine several methods and perform a combined facial cleansing. In practice, the use of a device is often combined with mechanical, manual removal of individual, larger impurities.

How does cleansing affect your skin?

During the treatment, dead skin cells, excess sebum, dust, and other impurities are removed. Cleansing involves deeply cleansing the pores of sebum blockages and the bacteria accumulated within them. After a visit to the cosmetologist, the skin becomes:

• the face takes on an even and healthy color;
• blackheads disappear; pores become less visible;
• the skin begins to breathe; the skin’s texture becomes smoother.

Contraindications and common mistakes

Although facial cleansing is one of the safest procedures in cosmetology, it is not suitable for everyone. Contraindications depend on the cleansing method. Non-invasive methods have a minimal list of restrictions, while deep mechanical and laser treatments are performed only in strictly defined cases and are not recommended for sensitive skin.

When can facial cleansing be harmful?

The procedure is not performed in the presence of the following diseases and conditions:

• abscesses, boils, and other rashes in the area of the face undergoing treatment;
• symptoms of eczema, allergic dermatitis, and other skin conditions;
• severe acne;
• non-healing wounds and skin ulcers;
• fever, symptoms of a cold, or other acute infection;
• facial or trigeminal neuralgia;
• uncontrolled cardiovascular diseases

Facial cleansing is not recommended during the recovery period following plastic surgery, injectable cosmetic procedures, and invasive procedures using devices. After such procedures, you should wait at least 4 weeks to allow the skin time to heal and regenerate.

Common myths about facial cleansing and the truth behind them

Myth #1 Facial cleansing cures acne

Cleansing is basic skincare, not a treatment for acne. Regular visits to a cosmetologist help prevent breakouts and manage acne, but in the case of existing pimples and inflammation, such treatments can worsen the condition. The same applies to blackheads: cleansing removes them only temporarily, so if we neglect our at-home skincare routine, impurities will start to build up in the pores again.

Myth #2: You can perform facial cleansing at home

Mechanical pore cleansing should be performed by a professional cosmetologist. Inexpert DIY procedures carry the risk of infection and the development of a rash. Careless squeezing of blackheads and closed comedones is often associated with excessive skin damage, scarring, or hyperpigmentation.

At home, you can perform vacuum or ultrasonic cleansing. For this purpose, use certified devices and be sure to consult a cosmetologist before use.

Myth #3 Enlarged pores will remain after cleansing

After the active cleansing phase, the cosmetologist applies masks that tighten pores and regenerate the epidermis. If the procedure was performed correctly and the patient follows the post-treatment care recommendations, there will be no problems.

Myth #4: Facial cleansing causes skin damage

If persistent redness remains after cleansing or new pimples appear, this is a sign that the procedure was performed incorrectly. Most often, this problem affects people who buy manual cosmetic tools and try to squeeze blackheads at home. In the hands of an experienced cosmetologist, all methods will be safe and minimally invasive.

Various facial cleansing methods

Non-invasive cleansing: what to choose?

The non-invasive method is one of the most popular cleansing techniques and is suitable for most cosmetologist patients.

The procedure is recommended for:

• people who want to maintain healthy and good-looking skin;
• people with a low pain threshold who are looking for the most comfortable treatment possible;
• people with active social lives who do not have time to recover after invasive procedures;
• people with symptoms of rosacea and dilated capillaries, with thin and sensitive skin.

Mechanical cleansing is recommended for people with dense, oily skin, with a large number of blackheads and closed comedones. Such elements cannot be removed using machine-based or atraumatic methods, so careful manual extraction is the only way to get rid of them.

Innovative technologies in facial cleansing: ultrasound, laser, vacuum

Modern machine-based methods provide good results and do not cause as much skin trauma as mechanical blackhead removal. Each option has its own characteristics:

• Ultrasonic cleansing – a universal method that does not damage the skin or cause redness, and can be performed as a “lunch break treatment” (you can use ultrasonic scrubber). Ultrasound also stimulates blood circulation, promoting skin oxygenation. However, the cleansing is superficial and does not effectively remove blackheads. High-quality skincare devices can be used for ultrasonic cleansing and other treatments.
  
• Vacuum cleansing is another effective and minimally invasive method that removes impurities even in hard-to-reach areas, tones blood vessels, and causes no discomfort. For this treatment, you can use a vacuum facial cleansing device. However, for very thin and dry skin, the vacuum action may be too aggressive, and for oily and problem skin, this method will not be able to remove all blackheads.
  
• Laser cleansing – this is a deep cleansing method known as laser carbon peeling. This treatment removes impurities and bacteria non-invasively, smooths the skin’s texture, and provides a lifting effect by heating the dermis. However, this treatment has more contraindications and causes facial redness and swelling that can last up to 24 hours.

Home care after facial cleansing

Recovery after the procedure lasts from 1 day in the case of ultrasound or atraumatic methods to 5–7 days in the case of mechanical cleansing. During this period, the following recommendations should be followed:

• after manually extracting blackheads, wash your face with an antiseptic;
• avoid products containing harsh ingredients: acids, retinol, vitamin C;
• use pH-neutral facial cleansers;
• include regenerating and moisturizing skincare products in your routine;
• Apply sunscreen daily;
• Do not touch your face with your hands;
• Avoid bathhouses and saunas, and limit sun exposure.

Skin care between cleansing treatments is aimed at maintaining and consolidating the achieved results. To slow down pore clogging and support the exfoliation of dead skin cells, a cosmetologist will recommend products with low acid concentrations, enzymatic powders, toners, and serums containing niacinamide. It is also essential to perform high-quality cleansing: washing your face in the morning and a two-step routine in the evening if makeup and/or SPF creams were applied to the skin during the day.

How often should facial cleansing be performed?

The frequency of treatments is determined individually, taking skin type into account.

People with overactive sebaceous glands and pores that become clogged quickly are advised to visit a cosmetologist every 1–2 months.

For normal and dry-prone skin, cleansing should be performed no more than once every 3 months. The frequency of treatments depends on your at-home skincare routine and the presence of internal factors contributing to skin deterioration.

For detailed information, consult your cosmetologist.

Professional advice and recommendations

Professional cosmetologists recommend performing at-home ultrasonic cleansing as follows.

When performing the procedure, strictly follow the sequence of steps to avoid damaging the skin. First, wash your hands thoroughly to prevent transferring bacteria to your face. Then, remove your makeup and use a regular facial cleanser.

The online store for medical equipment offers not only vacuum devices for facial cleansing, but also other skin care devices.