FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Diligence to your specific home care routine and the frequency of clinic treatments enables results to be seen faster. Dedicated clients will generally begin to see results within the first week after the initial treatment. Modifications and adjustments of topical medications MUST be administered OFTEN. Communication is extremely important for maximum benefits.

If it seems that your regimen is not working for you, it may simply call for adjustments to your medicating routine; not complete abandonment of therapy. In order for the skin to clear, it is important that you understand that the skin needs to be dry. Any peeling or dryness indicates penetration of medication. Consider that your treatment schedule may need modification or that a product may need to be substituted for another. Since all regimens are individualized, it is important that you call us as soon as you have any questions.

Similar to the treatment of acne, the safest method is to remove the damaged layers and stimulate new skin cell growth. In order to clear hyper-pigmentation / melasma, results are seen rapidly with the use of Hydroquinnone (a bleaching solution), Vitamin C, and/or Mandelic Acid in conjunction with chemical peeling. It is extremely important to use sun protection to prevent any future damage.

We specialize in ALL types of acne.

There are 4 main grades of acne.

Grades 1 + 2 are *non-inflammatory* and composed of comedones (aka blackheads) and smaller papules and pustules.

Grades 3 + 4 are composed of larger, deeper and *inflammatory* pustules and papules. Grade 4 is cystic, deeper and more nodular, generally more painful and almost always scarring. We work with all grades- treating and preventing.

We also work with the scarring that's sometimes left behind due to the inflammatory lesions.

The medical term for acne is 'Retention Hyperkeratosis'.

Let's break that down and make it easier to understand.

Retention means 'holding back'. Hyper means 'a lot'. Keratosis means 'dead skin cells'. So an oversimplified version of what this means is do you have a lot of dead superficial skin that's just stacking up and getting thicker. This is why acne is usually associated with oily skin. Dry skin is constantly shedding, maintaining a thinner layer. (not to say those with dry skin won't ever experience a breakout!) Generally, people who have oily skin, generally have thicker, more layers of dead skin cells that aren't falling off. The cells aren't turning over as quickly and pores become more impacted. Bacteria is more likely to form and that creates the likelihood of breakouts. Then you'll have to factor in genetics, stress, hormones...etc.

There are so many reasons why one person breaks out and another doesn't. We'll break this all down for you during your consultation because one size does NOT fit all with acne and treating YOU will be different than the next person.

No​, our facial treatments (and skincare products) are designed with acne in mind.

Unless we are doing our Anti-Aging treatment, our time is focused on creating clarity- we do not massage a lot during treatments as massaging stimulates oil production and can irritate or inflame active lesions.

We use skincare products created by a local chemist in small batches to ensure efficacy. Without the usual preservatives, fillers, and other additives, they are cleaner than most products you can find on shelves and are less likely to break you out.

It is possible, however, that we've taken off so much dead skin that you are seeing a breakout more than you would have previously. This is simply because it is closer to the surface and on it's way out- which is a good thing!

Our work is successful when you bring your goals and communicate them to us. How your skin looks post-treatment depends on how your skin looks coming in.

For instance, if you have inflammatory acne, it may be a little red after. If just a couple breakouts, not so red. ​We always tell people, either way, that their skin will look more rosy, shiny and clean!

We can always go easier on you the first visit if that's what you want- just let us know. Also, how you care for your skin prior to coming in and what you do with it when you leave is the most important part of your clarity.

Bottom line, our facial treatments ​are designed to clear you.

The quick answer is no, your acne should not get worse before it gets better.

You might find, however, that as we detach superficial dead skin (making your skin healthier), any active lesions that were once below the surface of the skin will start to get closer to the top and will become more visible.

This does not mean they are new breakouts, it means they are older ones coming out...which is great in the long run! The goal is clearing older acne lesions and preventing new ones.

Yes and that's what's so great about Corrective Skincare! We are not pushy seller people.

We work with you to find the best solution to your needs. If you speak with 20 different skincare professionals, you'll get 20 different suggestions. Our goal is to educate so YOU can choose the best approach. We will make suggestions but ultimately the decision is yours and we like it that way.

The majority of the work to clear skin is done at home through self care. If you are currently taking prescribed acne medication, we'll want to know that and we can mix and match the best home care or treatment in-house based on what your current acne medications are and the variables that are affecting your skin.

If you're working on acne, scarring or discoloration, you'll likely need to come in slightly more often in the beginning. You have to be more aggressive with these issues and if you come in more often in the beginning, the more extractions (or chemical peels) we do, the faster you clear, and the sooner you can reduce your in-clinic treatments.

We can work on your scarring (no problem!) but if you're still breaking out, it'll be an endless cycle since you'll get new scars. Our #1 goal is to clear you as fast as possible.

That being said, 80% of clearing your skin is home care. Your plan can be adjusted by your Esthetician during your in-clinic treatments or by scheduling a Virtual Consultation.

It's almost impossible for us to put an exact percentage to this, as the variables are endless: diligence with homecare, diet, exercise (stress reduction), make up, genetics, climate, etc) but for those that follow their 'home work' diligently *and communicate with us* have a better success rate than those who don't. The results are up to you.

In our experience, the most successful therapies are those closely monitored, therefore communication is crucial.

The clarity of your skin depends on your commitment to treatments and home care usage. Adjustments and modification may be needed for maximum results.

Of course! Just click here.

Chemical Peeling is a “skin cell loosening” technique. Skin is supposed to shed and renew itself every 28 days. However, due to genetics and age, this differs in some people and as time goes on the process drastically slows down. A chemical peel is simply an accelerated form of skin exfoliation resulting in newer, smoother skin.

Although the name may sound frightening, don’t be scared — there are many types of chemical peels, varying in strength. There are varying degrees of depth of a peel, ranging from a very light superficial exfoliation (removing dead skin cells and requiring no downtime- like the one we do in a Full Treatment) to a medium or deeper peel (removing more layers for a deeper resurfacing and refinement of the skin with a moderate amount of downtime).

A chemical peel is used to help “dry out” active acne (loosening deep impactions making them easier to extract), to help reduce shallow wrinkling and scarring, to help lighten hyperpigmentation (dark spots on the skin), and to help improve the overall appearance and health of aging skin. Clearing depends on diligence to both home care and regularity of treatments. Clearing is also determined by how well instructions are followed.

We don't do any Chemical Peels during new client visits.

There are many different types of acid, different strengths of acid, different client lifestyles...and most importantly, everyone has different skin! All of these factors need to be taken into consideration before performing a Chemical Peel.

It is our policy that everyone receives a 'Full Treatment' on their first visit, which includes the consultation.

We have chosen to make this mandatory for one very specific reason = we don't know you and do not want to cause unnecessary damage to your skin.

In some cases, prep work during the first visit and/or at home is required for best results.

In other cases, the risk of rushing the process can be pretty severe and we don't want our clients going through that.

We know this may seem inconvenient, but it is ultimately for your safety.

Our treatments and peels can absolutely help with skin texture.

To what degree is difficult to say though.

There are so many variables to the Chemical Peel (different depths of different types of acid) and so many variables to each individual. (skin type, genetics, lifestyle, etc.)

The more dead superficial skin you slough off, the less depth a scar will have, which will result in shallower scarring and smoother skin texture.

We can work this from both angles for quickest results; home skincare and in-clinic services.

The quick answer is yes!

We have treatments and most of our products are pregnancy and nursing safe. If you'd like to invest in acne prevention, you can either do Benzoyl Peroxide or Sulphur (we offer both) or a gentle and unbuffered (clean) acid...but that depends on what you and your OBGYN feel comfortable with.

Products we don't recommend during pregnancy or breastfeeding are Vitamin A derivatives or Hydroquinone, which is a bleach. Salicylic is also sometimes avoided.

If you'd like more specific tips or a personalized skincare plan, check out our Virtual Consultation service.

While we can help treat acne and breakouts that may occur with Rosacea, we cannot treat the condition of Rosacea.

Rosacea is a complex skin condition that may present itself in the form of redness, swelling and acne-like breakouts. Because of the complexity, we recommend seeking advice and or treatment from a Board-Certified Dermatologist for your Rosacea symptoms.

If you are seeking a skincare routine with reduced preservatives and filler ingredients—we've had clients achieve great results using a customized home-care routine of our CSLA Skincare products. In-clinic and virtual consultations are available.

YES! Our specialty is matching customized home care routines to YOUR skin based on your needs

We do a complete consultation during each treatment and have Virtual Consultations where we go over everything and provide information. Corrective Skincare spends the time explaining WHY.

Communication is the most important thing: if you understood WHY you are breaking out (or have scarring or discoloration or have sensitive skin) it's SO MUCH EASIER to correct, treat, and prevent.