Having treatment to improve your skin quality is important if you care about maintaining a vibrant and youthful appearance as you mature. There are many treatment options to choose from, each providing a particular benefit and addressing a specific issue.

However, what is often overlooked is the immediate aftercare your skin needs following treatment. It is much like going to the gym. Your treatment, like your workout, is an immediate stressor and the benefits of that stress are only materialised once your body has recovered.

You understand the importance of stretching and eating clean and healthy foods packed with nutrition after a solid gym session. You recognise the value of having a good night’s sleep and perhaps treating yourself to some cold water exposure or a hot sauna to aid recovery.

Whatever your ritual, you intuitively know that your responsibility to your body and development doesn’t end with your gym session, and beauty treatments are much the same.

Opulent Aesthetics provides all of the treatments you need to naturally improve your skin quality from its cosy studio in Purley, South Croydon. And, this article explains the crucial steps you need to take to ensure you get the maximum benefit without complications after your treatment.

More than this, we provide you with a 7-day plan to make sure you get it right. Let’s dive in.

The basics

No matter what treatment you undertake, some basic aftercare principles need to be adhered to, if you want perfect results. Here is a list of your ‘must-dos’.

Must do 1 –  Use sun protection: Sun exposure is your skin’s worst enemy, especially post-treatment as your skin is more sensitive and vulnerable. It is the fastest accelerator of ageing and cannot be ignored. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen religiously, even in mild conditions and when indoors.

Must do 2: Hydrate your skin: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out and apply a topical hydrating formula like hyaluronic acid after a few days.

Must do 3 – Avoid touching your face: Resist the urge to touch or pick at your face. This can introduce bacteria and lead to infection or simply increase inflammation.

Must do 4 – No hot environments: Stay away from saunas, steam rooms, and hot showers for at least 3 days. This is because heat promotes blood vessel dilation that can increase inflammation, redness and swelling when your skin is already in a vulnerable and mico-injured state (microneedling and chemical peels in particular).

Additionally, heat can provide the perfect conditions for bacteria to grow, risking infection. In rare instances, heat can stimulate melanin production triggering hyperpigmentation.

Must do 5 – No makeup: We understand that this can be challenging for many, but remember, true beauty is the long-term goal, so a few days of feeling less picture-perfect is a small price to pay for it. Makeup clogs your pores with unwanted nasties.

Must do 6 – Avoid active ingredients: Avoid skin products that can irritate your skin for at least 2-3 days. These include products containing retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or vitamin C.

Must do 7 – Avoid strenuous exercise: Excessive sweating can irritate the treated area.

Following these basic “rules” will ensure that your skin will recover in minimal time and achieve an optimum result. It is easy to dismiss these simple steps but trust us, they make all the difference.

Treatment specific aftercare

Each treatment affects your skin in nuanced ways, so it is important to adjust your aftercare by the specific treatments you have undertaken. By following these simple steps you will get it right every time.

Microneedling

Microneedling involves creating micro punctures in the surface of your skin using fine microneedles. Doing so stimulates your body’s wound healing response, which stimulates collagen and elastin production to rejuvenate your skin.

As your skin experiences micro-trauma, it is especially important to ensure a focused aftercare routine. Here is how you do that.

Day 1

• Expect redness, tightness, and mild swelling.
• Apply a SPF 30+ cream every day.
• Avoid makeup for at least 2-3 days.
• Cleanse with cool water and a gentle cleanser.
• Apply a calming, hydrating serum or hyaluronic acid in the evening before bed.

Day 2-3

• Redness will subside, but your  skin may feel dry and flaky.
• Continue gentle cleansing and hydration.
• Apply a SPF 30+ cream.
• Apply a gentle moisturiser without retinoids or strong active ingredients.
• Mineral makeup can be used if needed, but keep it light.

Day 4-7

• Your skin will continue to improve.
• Continue hydration and sun protection routine in the morning
• Gentle exfoliation can be introduced if your inflammation has reduced enough. Use a cool damp towel and a mild, preferably natural exfoliating product.
• Continue to use hydrating serums at night.
• You can begin applying makeup as normal.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels, also known as liquid skin peels, use a gentle acidic formula that gradually dissolves the outer layer of your skin, revealing a younger and fresher skin with less imperfections.

Although not a harsh treatment, it still causes a microinjury that makes your skin vulnerable, so following a solid aftercare program is imperative.

Day 1-3 (peeling phase):

• Expect redness, tightness, and visible peeling, but do not pick at your peeling skin – allow it to shed naturally.
• Use a gentle cleanser and a thick, hydrating moisturiser.
• Sun protection is crucial.

Day 4-7 (healing phase):

• Peeling will subside, and the skin will feel smoother.
• Continue gentle cleansing and hydration, and certainly apply sun protection.
• Avoid harsh exfoliants for at least a week

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Must read: Looking After Your Skin In The Winter

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Dermal fillers

Dermal fillers involve injecting a special formula comprising of hyaluronic acid into specific areas of your face to increase volume and to balance your profile for symmetry.

Day 1-2:

• Expect mild swelling, bruising, and tenderness at injection sites.
• Apply a cold compress (ice pack wrapped in cloth) for 10-15 minutes to reduce swelling at a time.
• Avoid touching or massaging the treated area for at least two weeks.
• Do not lie down for at least 4 hours after your treatment.
• Avoid strenuous exercise for 24-8 hours – elevating your heart rate can lead to bleeding and sweat can irritate the injection site. Strenuous muscle contractions can also cause the filler to move before it has settled.
• Avoid alcohol, blood thinners, aspirin and ibuprofen.
• Drink plenty of water (ensure you pee at least 5-6 times each day)
• Avoid heat and sun exposure (no saunas, steam rooms, hot showers etc) for at least 48 hours.
• Use sun protection with a minimum of SPV factor 30+ continuously after treatment to maintain good skin quality.
• Sleep with your head elevated.
• If you notice any unevenness or bumps, call Sadie at Opulent Aesthetics who will schedule a follow up appointment in her professional studio in Purley, Croydon, to take any corrective steps that might be necessary.
  
  

Day 3-7:

• Swelling and bruising will gradually subside.
• Avoid strenuous exercise and sun exposure.
• Continue to apply sunscreen.
• If bruising persists, consider using arnica cream.
• Avoid facial massage for two weeks.
• If you notice any unevenness or bumps, call Sadie at Opulent Aesthetics who will schedule a follow up appointment in her professional studio in Purley, Croydon, to take any corrective steps that might be necessary.

Skin Boosters (including polynucleotides

Skin boosters involve injecting natural compounds consisting of amino acids and hyaluronic acid that encourage natural skin regeneration by providing your skin with a surplus of the essential ingredients needed on a cellular level.

Polynucleotides achieve the same thing using DNA and RNA fragments provided by salmon “milk”.

Day 1-2:

• Expect mild swelling, redness, and small bumps at injection sites.
• Apply a cold compress (ice pack wrapped in a cloth) for 10-15 minutes at a time to reduce swelling.
• Avoid touching or massaging the treated area for at least two weeks.
• Avoid makeup for at least 24-48 hours.

Day 3-7:

• Swelling and redness will subside.
• Continue hydration and sun protection.
• Small bumps will gradually disappear.
• Avoid strenuous exercise for a few days.

Final thoughts

Aftercare should not be an afterthought. It is just as important as the treatment itself when it comes to implementation of good practice. Taking shortcuts will inevitably lead to poorer results, which defeats the purpose of having beauty treatments.

There is a lot of overlap in the aftercare procedures and this is because these tried and tested principles work. Rather than see them as a hindrance, see them as a ritual. Your face sometimes needs a break from harsh elements found in makeup, cleansers, and even from showers that can dry your skin.

The aftercare phases act like a retreat for your skin to rejuvenate and come back clearer, smoother, and above all happier.

Opulent Aesthetics treats your skincare with the highest importance and so should you.

Book your appointment with Sadie today, who will be delighted to invite you to her studio in Purley, South Croydon, where you will enjoy a luxurious self-care experience.