A Guide to At Home Extractions
Extractions are extremely important to the health of the skin. Professional extractions are ideal, however, not always accessible because of time, finances or other reasons. It is always the best option to have a professional perform extractions as this lessens the likelihood of scarring and improves the chances that all congestion will be removed efficiently.
congestion happens to everyone as it is part of the process of life. Our skin produces oil (sebum) naturally and these oils can clog the pores. Other factors such as sweat, makeup and pollutants can get trapped in your pores and hinder the results of your self care journey.
Estheticians are trained to remove congestion in both a safe and sanitary manner. That means using tools that can be sterilized and not handling the skin in a way that could cause damage. Many estheticians, including myself, consider their ultrasonic scrubber to be a vital tool in their treatment room.
ultrasonic skin spatula
the ultrasonic skin spatula aka skin scubber can be used to perform extractions and to massage serums/oils/creams deeper into the skin.
steps to take when performing extractions at home
keep it clean- all non disposable tools being used need to be cleaned before hand with rubbing alcohol. Your hands should be washed before coming in contact with anything you will be using. Pretend you are a surgeon on your way into the operating room. gloves are ideal.
Prep the skin- prepping the skin for extractions consists of the basic steps of a facial. Cleansing, exfoliating and then using a hydrating toner on the skin is ideal before extractions. for the most efficient exfoliations, I recommend using a chemical exfoliate. this step can be done with steam in additION TO product.
Be gentle with yourself- while using your ultrasonic scubber, there is no need to dig into the skin. your skin should be damp/wet and your scrubber will be able to glide along the surface of the skin. do this in as many directions as you can because pores go in all directions. add water to the skin as you go over each section.
Finishing steps- After your extractions, be sure to do a gentle cleanse using a hydrating face wash. This will help to ensure that you do not spread bacteria on the surface of your skin. this can be followed up with a high frequency device and your hydration steps (toner, moisturizer, essences, etc.).